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IT IS A 8:33 AM.[Call to Order]
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, IT'S 8:33 AM.I'D LIKE TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 8TH TO ORDER.
WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE BIT OVER TIME HERE, GETTING STARTED.
WE HAD AN IDC MEETING THIS MORNING AND JUST FINISHED THAT UP A FEW MINUTES AGO AND SO WE'RE GETTING INTO OUR WORKSHOP.
IT IS SEPTEMBER 8TH, OUR MEETING WORKSHOP IS NOW OFFICIALLY IN ORDER.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, BUT JANELLE, COULD YOU DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE?
COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU SOME THOUGHTS ON OUR SCHEDULE FOR
[3.A. Clarification Of Consent And Regular City Council Agenda Items - This Is An Opportunity For City Council To Ask Questions Of Staff On Consent And Regular Agenda Items (20 Minutes)]
TODAY AND PROPOSE SOMETHING TO YOU AND SEE WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED.WE ARE TO DO WHARVES BOARD AND PLANNING COMMISSION INTERVIEWS THIS MORNING.
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 14 INDIVIDUALS THAT WE NEED TO INTERVIEW BUT IF YOU COMBINE THE TWO, THOSE ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO START AT 9 AM, APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES FROM NOW.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, I DON'T WANT TO CUT SHORT THE DISCUSSION OF OUR AGENDA ITEMS, ESPECIALLY THE BUDGET DISCUSSION.
I'M GOING TO PROPOSE THAT WE START THAT DISCUSSION NOW.
I'M GOING TO START THE DISCUSSION WITH ITEM 8A ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS THE BUDGET.
WE'LL START THAT DISCUSSION NOW.
WE'LL CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION.
IF WE RUN A LITTLE BIT OVER, THAT IS FINE.
JANELLE HAS NOTIFIED THE APPLICANTS THAT WE MAY RUN A LITTLE BIT OVER ON STARTING AT 9 O'CLOCK.
IF WE SEE THAT WE NEED A LOT MORE TIME THOUGH, TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSIONS HERE, WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN TAKE A PAUSE WITH OUR DISCUSSION OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AROUND 9:00, 9:15.
WE CAN DO OUR INTERVIEWS, AND THEN COME BACK AND FINISH OUR DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING THE BUDGET.
>> LET'S TRY AND DO FORMULA, WE GOT STAFF [OVERLAPPING].
I DON'T WANT TO KEEP THEM HERE.
>> MAYOR WITH THAT SAID, IF THERE'S QUESTIONS THAT STAFFS HERE, DO WE WANT THOSE FIRST AND THEN TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET BECAUSE ALL WE NEED IS REALLY MIND FOR THE BUDGET.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO. THAT'S WHAT I MENTIONED.
WE'RE GOING TO START OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION ITEM 8A ON OUR CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS. WE'LL START THAT RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO ALSO MENTION I HAVE RECEIVED INPUT FROM OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE HERE AT THE CITY CONCERNING THE BUDGET.
THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH THE BUDGET ALSO.
WE HAVE THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE EDDIE WALSH HERE.
I THINK EDDIE WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS ALSO.
EDDIE WALSH HERE COME ON UP NOW, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE, SIR, HAVE A SEAT.
COME ON UP HAVE A SEAT UP HERE WITH OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE INPUT AND LET'S START THIS DISCUSSION NOW ON OUR BUDGET.
WHAT I WANTED TO DO STAFF AND COUNCIL, WE HAVE BASICALLY TWO ITEMS ON OUR BUDGET HERE AND YOU GUIDE ME IF I'M READING THIS INCORRECTLY, WE HAVE THIS AFTERNOON ITEMS ON OUR BUDGET TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AND TO APPROVE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
TECHNICALLY, THAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE APPROVED TODAY.
WE CAN DEFER THAT TO OUR SEPTEMBER 15TH MEETING, BUT IT CANNOT GO BEYOND THAT.
THAT WOULD BE THE CUTOFF THAT WE COULD THEN DISCUSS AND APPROVE THE BUDGET.
I THINK ALL OF US INCLUDED WITH STAFF WITH LIGHT TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS BUDGET APPROVED TODAY.
THAT WOULD BE AT COUNCIL'S DISCRETION AND WE CAN DEFER THAT IF WE FEEL THAT WE SHOULD.
WE HAVE BEFORE US, WE HAVE TWO THOUGHT PATTERNS ON THIS BUDGET.
ONE IS WHAT THE STAFF HAS PRESENTED TO US.
YOU'VE BEEN HAVING A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH STAFF THAT'S BASED ON THE PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 45 CENTS.
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THEN WE'VE HAD AN ALTERNATIVE DISCUSSION OF REDUCING THAT EVEN MORE.COUNCIL MEMBER LISTOWSKI, JOHN HAS BROUGHT THAT TO OUR ATTENTION ON A METHOD OF DOING THAT TO LOWER IT DOWN TO 44-44 WITH LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES.
BEFORE WE START THAT DISCUSSION, SO I DON'T KEEP HIM WE HAVE EDDIE WALSH HERE.
EDDIE, I KNOW THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS LOOKED AT THIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE?
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. JUST REAL QUICK, THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW ME I'M EDDIE WALSH.
I'M CPA HERE IN TOWN AND CPA, FOR MY CURRENT SHARE THE CITY FINANCE COMMITTEE.
PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN VICE-CHAIR, CHAIR FINANCE FOR BOTH PARK BOARD AND WHARVES BOARD AND I WAS CHAIR OF THE SEAT BALLPARK ACTIVITY THAT RAISE THE PARKING FEES A FEW YEARS AGO.
I WAS ASKED IF THE CITY FINANCE MET LAST TUESDAY.
ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION WAS DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING POSSIBLE DEFICIT FUNDING EATING INTO THE RESERVE FUND, THE OPERATING FUND, THE CITY'S BUDGET AS MEANS TO FUND CERTAIN EXPENDITURES.
WHILE THE COMMITTEE DIDN'T VOTE ON THAT ITEM, WE DID DISCUSS IT AND THEN I WAS ASKED TO COME HERE TODAY, TO ADDRESS WHAT AT LEAST THE THOUGHTS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WERE ON THAT.
I WOULD SAY THAT FIRST OF ALL, WE ONLY HEARD ONE SIDE OF THE ISSUE, WE ONLY HEARD FROM STAFF ON IT.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE AMONGST COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT I CAN SAY THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE DEFINITELY HAD CONCERNS REGARDING DEFICIT FUNDING AND USING RESERVE FUNDS, AND THE CONCERNS WERE THAT MAY NOT BE IN THE OPTIMUM LONG-TERM FINANCIAL INTERESTS OF THE CITY.
I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BECAUSE HONESTLY, WE DIDN'T TAKE A VOTE ON IT, BUT THERE WASN'T A SINGLE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER WHO DIDN'T EXPRESS SOMEWHAT OF A CONCERN ON IT.
THE KEY CONCERN THAT I FORESEE IS THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE ONCOMING POSSIBLY SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT THE CITY'S FINANCES AND OVERALL ECONOMY.
TO ME, THE KEY QUESTION, AND WE ALL REMEMBER DICK CHENEY, HE TALKED ABOUT WHAT IS THE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN.
SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT WE KNOW SOMETHING WILL.
IT'S GOING TO BE A HURRICANE, A FREEZE, A FLOOD, LAWSUITS, ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.
THE OVERALL ECONOMY, SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN, POSSIBLY MORE THAN ONE.
YOU CAN'T PLAN FOR A PARTICULAR, BUT YOU CAN PLAN FOR IT IN GENERAL.
RIGHT NOW, ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES, IS WE'RE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED ECONOMIC TIME.
INFLATION COMBINED WITH RECESSION IS GOING TO IMPACT THE CITY'S FINANCES BOTH ON THE REVENUE SIDE AND ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.
I BELIEVE REVENUE IS GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY PROBABLE DECLINES IN PROPERTY VALUES, WHICH IS A LAGGING INDICATOR AND POSSIBLE DECLINES IN SALES AND SALES TAX REVENUE, WHICH IS [NOISE] ILLEGAL, THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT REVENUE.
EXPENDITURE IS GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY INFLATIONARY PRESSURES, SPECIFICALLY HIGHER COSTS FOR MATERIALS, HIGHER COSTS FOR CONSUMABLES, PLUS HIGHER COSTS FOR WAGES AND OTHER ASSOCIATED WAGE PRESSURES AND THE RELATED BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
REALISTICALLY, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, ALL THAT'S GOING TO HIT BOTH ON THE REVENUE SIDE AND ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.
IN ADDITION, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED OR MAYBE IT HAS, AND I'M JUST UNAWARE.
THE UNFUNDED RETIREMENT PLAN LIABILITIES ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED IN THIS.
THAT'S GOING TO BE MAINLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THESE PLANS ARE VALUED ANNUALLY.
I BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEGINNING OF YEAR VALUATION DATES ON THEM, AND THOSE VALUATION DATES ARE COMING UP.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHETHER THEY'RE SEPTEMBER FISCAL YEARS OR JANUARY YEARS.
I THINK THEY'RE JANUARY, SO THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE ALL REVALUED AS OF EFFECTIVELY, THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.
SINCE BOTH FIXED INCOME ASSETS AND EQUITY ASSETS INVESTMENTS ARE DOWN AND PROBABLY WILL STAY DOWN, MY GUESS IS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A 10-20 PERCENT ADJUSTMENT OF
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THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY IN ALL [NOISE] OF THE FINANCIAL PLAN FOR THE NEXT VALUATION DATE, FIRE, POLICE, AND CITY SO THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT CITY FINANCES.NOW WILL THAT CLEAR? TIME WILL TELL.
TIME IS THE GREAT UNKNOWN IN ALL THIS, BUT THERE ARE SOME HEADWINDS OUT THERE THAT EYES WILL SEE.
THE REALLY KEY QUESTION ALL THIS IS WHAT LEVEL OF RESERVE FUND IS REQUIRED? RIGHT NOW, OUR LAST NUMBER WE SAW WE WERE 126 DAYS.
I THINK THE GOAL IS 120 DAYS, I BELIEVE, EITHER BY CHARTER OR BY A COUNCIL ACTION, 90 DAYS IS REQUIRED, 120 DAYS IS GREAT, 120 DAYS IS A GREAT GOAL, AND I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR EXCEEDING THAT.
LOOK AT QUESTION, IF GALVESTON WAS NOT A BARRIER ISLAND, TO ME A 120 DAYS WOULD BE FINE, BUT WE ARE AN ISLAND, AND WE HAVE THAT RISK OF HURRICANES.
THE BIG UNFUNDED, SELF-INSURED RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
WHAT IS THAT? THAT THAT IS. LET'S GO BACK TO 2008 TO IKE.
WE ALL REMEMBER IKE. THE CITY SPENT 100 MILLION DOLLARS ON CLEAN UP AFTERWARDS PLUS AND OTHER COSTS.
LUCKILY, FEMA FUNDED ALL THAT, A LOT OF IT IN ADVANCE.
O'BRIAN, DID WE HAVE MUCH OF A MATCH ON THAT AT ALL? YOU WERE HERE THEN.
>> TEN PERCENT IS RIGHT. TEN PERCENT IS 10 MILLION DOLLARS.
IF IT GOT TODAY, IT'D BE 200 MILLION.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS FEMA IS REQUIRING ABOUT 25 PERCENT MATCH?
>> IT DEPENDS ON THE LEVEL OF THE DISASTER.
>> TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT, 50 MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT IS UNFUNDED LIABILITY THAT'S NOT ON THE CITY'S BOOKS.
THERE'S NO MONEY OUT THERE FOR IT.
>> WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CREDIT LINE.
>> WE'VE GOT A LOT CREDIT WHICH YOU GOT TO PAY BACK.
ONCE YOU USE A LINE OF CREDIT FUND, YOU GOT TO PAY THAT BACK AT SOME POINT IN TIME. IT'S A LINE OF CREDIT.
IT'S A FAST PAYBACK ON, THAT IS NOT A 30-YEAR PAY BACK.
MY POINT IN ALL THIS IS THAT THERE ARE HEADWINDS OUT THERE THAT FIXABLE LIABILITIES OR OTHER ISSUES.
GOVERNMENT'S MAIN JOB IS TO PLAN FOR CHANGE AND TO MITIGATE RISK.
THAT'S THE KEY ON THIS, BUT I'M NOT SURE EATING INTO THE RESERVE ON RIGHT NOW IS DOING THAT JOB.
OF COURSE, THESE ARE POLICY ISSUES AND POLITICS DEFINITELY COMES INTO PLAY.
BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, LOOKING FOR A PURE FINANCIAL PICTURE, I THINK THAT NOW IS NOT NECESSARILY TIME TO REDUCE THE RESERVE FUNDS.
I THANK THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR INPUT, ANY QUESTIONS? YES JOHN.
>> SORRY TO INTERRUPT. WHEN YOU SAY REDUCE THE FUNDS, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
>> WELL, ARE YOU YOU ASKED ME WHAT SHOULD THE RESERVE FUND BE AND WHEN CAN YOU-
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S THAT'S 64,000, OR IN THIS INSTANCE, THE $64 MILLION QUESTION.
AGAIN, I WOULD SAY A 120 DAYS IF WE'RE NOT LIVING ON AN ISLAND IS PROBABLY A GOOD AMOUNT.
IF THIS WERE MY BUSINESS, IF I WERE RUNNING THE CITY AS A BUSINESS AND I KNEW THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET A HURRICANE EVERY X NUMBER OF YEARS, I KNEW I WAS SELF INSURING FOR IT, I'D WANT MORE THAN A 120 DAYS RESERVE AND 120 DAYS RESERVED FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS, AND I'D WANT TO SELF-INSURANCE FUND FOR ALL THE OTHER THINGS WHICH ARE OUT THERE.
NOW, HOW MUCH DOES THAT NEED TO BE? MORE THAN WHAT IT IS NOW? WHAT'S UP THEN RIGHT NOW? THE 50 MILLION PLUS 120 DAYS.
THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE, THAT'S NOT PRACTICAL.
BUT IT IS PRACTICAL NOT TO EAT INTO THE RESERVED ONE. I GUESS, LET ME ADD TO THAT.
THE NUMBERS WE HAD WAS EATING INTO IT BY 500,000 OR SO. THAT'S A ROUNDING ERROR.
IT'S NOT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, IT IS A PRECEDENT OF IT.
WE WEREN'T REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT 500,000.
[NOISE] FIVE HUNDRED IT'S TRULY A ROUNDING ERROR.
>> [NOISE] YOU WOULDN'T EVEN EAT INTO THAT PAYING THE LIABILITY?
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>> PAYING A LIABILITY IS LITTLE DIFFERENT.
I THINK THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO EAT INTO IT AND YOU HAVE A TRUE LIABILITY OUT THERE, LET'S SAY HEALTH CARE COSTS LIABILITY, THAT'S DEFINITELY ONE I'VE HEARD BANDIED ABOUT.
THEN AT LEAST WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE PAYING OFF THE LIABILITY AND PAYING OFF SOMETHING THAT'S ON THE BALANCE SHEET.
>> BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP YOU WHEN IT COMES TO A STORM.
>> DOESN'T HELP YOU WHEN IT COMES TO THE STORM, BUT IT DOES THOUGH THESE PAYS OFF A FIXED LIABILITY.
>> PAGE DOWN TO FIX LIABILITY.
>> BUT CHARLES, BASIC PROMISE TO KEEP THAT FUNDING UP IS THESE UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE A HURRICANE.
WITH THAT SCENARIO YOU WOULD NEVER WANT THAT.
YOU WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE TO PAY INTO THAT AND NOT PAY DOWN THAT LIABILITY BECAUSE YOU MIGHT GET A HURRICANE NEXT YEAR AND YOU MIGHT BE OUT $50 MILLION.
>> WELL, WHAT'S YOUR ARGUMENT TO PAY DOWN THAT LIABILITY? YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT HEALTHCARE COSTS ULTIMATELY HAS TO BE PAID DOWN.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS DON'T USE THE MONEY FOR THIS STANDARD OPERATING COSTS.
ANOTHER PROGRAM AND ANNUAL PROGRAM AS SUCH.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO EAT INTO THE RESERVE FUND.
I STILL WOULD SAY TRY TO GET SOME RESERVE FUND AT LEVEL IT IS, AND TRY TO WORK AROUND THIS, POSSIBLY THROUGH GENERATING OTHER REVENUE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA IS, LET'S FIND A WAY TO MONETIZE TOURISTS. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING.
THAT IS AN AREA WHERE WORKING WITH WARS, RENEGOTIATING CONTRACTS, POSSIBLY INCREASING BEACH USER FEES GOT WORKERS G-LO ON THAT AND IT TAKES FOREVER TODAY.
BUT ALWAYS HAVING SOMETHING OUT THERE TO [NOISE] INCREASE THESE FEES TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATIONARY PRESSURES.
RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, WE ARE AT WORST.
MOST OF THE CONTRACTS WITH THE CRUISE LINES WERE WRITTEN BACK.
WE WERE TRYING TO BRING BUSINESS DOWN, HERE, THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
THEY'RE BUILDING $100 MILLION FACILITIES HERE AND THEY GO SELLING OF THREE OTHER CRUISE LINES ARE LINED UP TO TAKE YOUR PLACE.
THEY'RE GOING OUT OF HERE AT A HIGHER AVERAGE DAILY RATE AND HIGHER ON-BOARD REVENUE THAN ANYPLACE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.
THEY WANT TO BE HERE. [NOISE] LET'S RE-WORK A DEAL WITH THEM AND INCREASE PASSENGER FEES.
>> MAY I INTERJECT HERE JUST TO SAY THAT I THINK PART OF THE DEBATE THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE NOT BEEN PARTY TO, [BACKGROUND] WHAT HAVE WE REPLACE THAT $500,000.
IT'S BEEN MOVED TO I THINK JOHN'S CONTENTION ON OVERSTATE THIS, BUT THAT TAKE IT OFF THE BUDGET NOW AND FIND SOMEPLACE TO REPLACE IT WITH JUST EXACTLY THE THINGS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I'VE ARGUED WITH PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE HERE, BUT BY REDUCING THE BUDGET, THEN GOING LOOKING FOR PLACES TO FUND IT, WHERE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WANTED TO TAKE IT DOWN AND FORCE THEM SOMEHOW TO GO FIND IT IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT?
>> YES, BUT MY POINT HERE AND YOU GO BACK AND FORTH, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT AND IT HITS SOME TOPICS THERE.
BUT THE REAL POINT HERE IS A 3.5 PERCENT TAX CAP THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> IS IT, [NOISE] I MEAN, I WANT TO LISTEN TO YOUR FIRST OPENER THERE, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT PRUDENT TO REDUCE, TO GO UNDER OR LOWER THAT THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT TAX CAP, THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT INCREASE EACH YEAR THAT WE'RE DOING.
>> WELL, I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO STAY AT THAT CAP.
BUT OTHERWISE, YOU'D JUST RECALL OR [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO, WELL, IF YOU GO ABOVE IT, YES.
>> WE'RE RIGHT BELOW IT, EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, FOUR YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN AT A RIGHT UNDER THE THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT.
MY THOUGHT HERE IS THAT WE ARE INCREASING TAXES EACH YEAR, MAINLY WELL ACROSS THE BOARD, EVEN THOUGH OUR HOMESTEAD FOLKS WILL PAY LESS TAXES THIS YEAR THAN THEY DID PREVIOUS YEAR.
BUT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO PAY, WE'RE STILL INCREASING THAT TAX RATE BY THE THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT.
THERE'S A PHILOSOPHY IS DO YOU EVER REDUCE THAT AND TAKE THAT BURDEN OFF OF YOUR TAXPAYERS? OR DO YOU ARE YOU SAYING THAT? NO, YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT AT THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT IT BECAUSE IT'S JUST FINANCIALLY THE THING TO DO, AND WE NEED TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM ANY OF THESE UNKNOWNS, THESE HURRICANES, WHATEVER OUR OTHER LIABILITIES WE HAVE OUT THERE.
WE NEED TO INCREASE, SAY, RIGHT BELOW THAT THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT EVERY YEAR,
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WE'RE GOING TO RAISE YOUR FEES BY THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT EACH YEAR.WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS HERE.
[OVERLAPPING] BUT THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU SAID, LET'S GO AFTER THESE REVENUES THAT ARE TOURIST INDUSTRY, USER FEES.
AND SO IF YOU GO AFTER THOSE, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM? DO YOU THEN TRY TO USE THOSE TO REDUCE THAT THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT?
>> I'M SORRY, EXCUSE ME. IF YOU DON'T MIND.
LET ME I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, JOHN AND WE TALKED ABOUT.
THE THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES THAT THE CITY HAS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT PENSION FINE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION EACH YEAR.
NOW, DO WE NEED TO GO TO THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT? I DON'T THINK SO. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THOSE ALTERNATE REVENUE SOURCES AND REDUCE THIS TAX RATE.
I THINK YOU SHOULD GO TO THE TAX RATE.
BUT THE KEY IS, I THINK, WHAT IN MY MIND IS HOW WE DO THAT.
DO WE DO IT IN A MANNER THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO SAY FIND 500,000 COMING UP HERE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
IT'S NOT LIKE A SWITCH THAT WE CAN TURN ON [BACKGROUND] AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE'LL START HAVING MONEY FLOW IN FROM THE PORT IN FRONT OF THE PORT BOARD.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THAT WAY.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO BUILD IT UP.
IF WE'RE LOOKING AT PURELY ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES FOR THIS 500,000, IT COULD VERY WELL BE THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE THAT ALL FLOW-IN IN THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR.
SO THAT IS A CONCERN THAT I HAVE NOW.
I THINK THAT IN SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS [BACKGROUND] WHICH I SUPPORT, YOU WANT TO NOT ONLY AFFECT THIS YEAR BUT THE NEXT YEAR, SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE A TOTAL OF A MILLION DOLLAR REDUCTION IN 500,000 NOW, 500,000 NEXT YEAR.
THE WAY MY MIND WORKS IS THAT WE TEST THAT TO GO OUT AND THEY ACTUALLY RESEARCH AND COME UP AND PUT IN MOTION THE MECHANISM TO HAVE THIS ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCE FLOWING IN TO OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.
WE REDUCE THEM THE TAX RATE STARTING NEXT YEAR BASED UPON A KNOWN QUANTITY THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE DETAILS ARE TO WORKOUT TO BRING THIS MONEY IN.
I THINK IN MY MIND, IF WE DID THAT, IF COUNCIL WANTED TO SUPPORT THAT, YOU COULD PROBABLY LOOK AT A MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE NEXT YEAR; USING THAT MONEY TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE.
>> I PERSONALLY THINK THAT WE COULD [BACKGROUND] REDUCE THE TAX RATE BY A PENNY THIS YEAR.
WE'RE ALL WELL AWARE OF, A PENNY IS $800,000 AND WE HAVE ONE THING THAT'S A CONSTANT.
WE HAVE ONE THING THAT WE KNOW THAT REVENUES WILL BE IN BY DECEMBER 31ST AND THAT SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
I'VE PUT TOGETHER [NOISE] SOME NUMBERS ON IF WE INCREASE THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL THING.
TO ME, THIS WEAK NUMBER IS THERE IS A NUMBER FOR YOU THERE IN THAT.
[BACKGROUND] WE CURRENTLY HAVE 4,627 SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
THEY ACTUALLY ESTIMATE THAT NUMBER BY THE END OF THE YEAR TO BE AT 500,000.
ONE THING THAT WE DO KNOW IS CURRENTLY ESPECIALLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> FIVE THOUSAND. SORRY. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] BUT WHEN WE INCREASE THE ANNUAL RATE, WE KNOW WE'LL HAVE SOME DROPOUT BECAUSE WHEN OUR ZERO NEIGHBORHOODS CHANGE, THERE'S A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COME IN.
THEY PAY THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION TO JUST KEEP THEIR PROPERTY ELIGIBLE TO SHORT-TERM RENTAL, EVEN THOUGH THEY AREN'T SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
I BASED THIS OFF 4,600, WHICH IS LESS THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
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I THINK THE SWEET NUMBER, MYSELF I THINK IT'S 300, CONTRARY TO A MEMO THAT WENT OUT AND I NEVER DISCUSSED THESE WITH BRYSON.THE THING THAT I'M WANTING TO CLARIFY WITH HIM IS EVEN IF YOU REGISTER YOUR SHORT-TERM RENTAL TOMORROW, BY DECEMBER 31ST, YOU HAVE TO PAY THAT ANNUAL FEE AGAIN.
THIS NUMBER IS EMBEDDING ON THE COMMON LINE.
THIS NUMBER IS, MAYBE IT MIGHT HAPPEN.
WE ALL KNOW WE NEED TO RAISE THE RENT.
I THINK WE EVEN HAVE THAT ON OUR NEXT AGENDA.
BUT IT WORKS EITHER WAY WITH 250 OR 300 BECAUSE WE LEFT THAT ONE PENNY, THAT'S 800.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT EXTRA REVENUE? YOU TAKE A PERCENTAGE OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE IN THE GENERAL FUND THAT WE KNOW ARE INCREASED BY SHORT-TERM RENTALS, SUCH AS THE MARSHAL, SUCH AS OUR POLICE.
TAKE A PERCENTAGE OF THAT AND YOU'RE ABLE TO REPLACE THAT COST FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
[NOISE] BECAUSE I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING THE RESERVES.
I DO THINK JOHN'S IDEA ABOUT USING $0.06 TO BUY DOWN THE HEALTHCARE OR LIABILITY AS THAT ONE.
BUT I STILL THINK WE CAN TAKE OUR TAXES DOWN IN PENNY, AND THEN AS WE DEVELOP THE ADDITIONAL FEES, THE ONES THAT ARE UNKNOWN, THEN NEXT YEAR, WE COULD PROBABLY ACHIEVE A NO NET NEW REVENUE TAX RATE.
>> I THINK WE'RE GOOD TO KNOW WE HAVE REVENUE AT SOME POINT, I AGREE.
JUST A THOUGHT, MARIE, ON THIS HERE.
WITH THAT WE'VE GOT THESE FIGURES IN FRONT OF US.
THE ANNUAL COST OF THE SOFTWARE NEEDS TO COME OUT OF THAT?
>> WE'VE GOT AN EMERGENCY CALL CENTER THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING.
>> THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE HANDLED UNDER THE MARSHAL'S DEPARTMENT.
>> LET'S NOT GET THE POLICE ON THAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THERE ARE WAYS THAT IT CAN BE DONE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE DON'T KNOW. BUT MY POINT IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED YET.
WE NEED TO DETERMINE IT'S GOING TO COME OFF THE TOP, GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS.
>> I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE LEFT.
>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE WE SET THAT.
>> WE ALL KNOW THAT SHORT-TERM RENTALS AREN'T GOING AWAY.
TO ME IN ALL OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD, THE MOST FRIGHTENING THING THAT I HEARD IS WE'VE LOST ONE PERCENT OF OUR HOMESTEADS.
>> WE KNOW SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE DRIVING UP THE PROPERTY TAXES AND WE KNOW IT'S DRIVING OUT FULL-TIME PEOPLE FROM THE ISLAND.
IF WE DON'T START PUTTING SOME OF THE BURDEN ON THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, THAT IS TAXING OUR POLICE, OUR MARSHALS, OUR ROADS, OUR TRASH, MANY DIFFERENT AREAS, THEN WE'RE NOT SERVING OUR CITIZENS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
BUT I THINK THERE'S A WAY WE CAN DO THIS.
AGAIN, IF WE LOOKED AT 500, AND I DON'T CARE, THE SMALLEST OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS IS RUNNING FOR A MINIMUM OF A $100 A NIGHT.
I KNOW YOU ALL LIKE TO KEEP NUMBERS LOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHY SINCE IT AFFECTS OUR CITIZENS.
PROBABLY THAT SWEET SPOT 300 WOULD LEAVE US WITH A MILLION.
EVEN IF WE HAVE SOME 380 FOR THE OTHER COST, BUT TAKE IT DOWN, I'M ONLY TALKING ABOUT REDUCING THE TAX RATE BY ONE PENNY.
IF WE USE THE 300, THAT WOULD LEAVE US 580,000 TO PUT A PERCENTAGE OF A SERVICE THAT'S IN THE GENERAL FUND AND ADD ADDITIONAL COST.
WE HAVE DAVID, THEN I THINK EDDIE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING, THEN JOHN. DAVID.
>> TWO NUMBERS FROM ONE TO 4,600 I THINK.
THIS IS AGAIN BETTING ON SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE NOT ALL SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE CREATIVE.
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THAT'S THE DEBATE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.I THINK IT'S SIMPLISTIC AT THIS POINT TO SAY THERE'S A GUARANTEED MILLION DOLLARS ON THE TABLE RIGHT THERE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE.
>> THEY'RE NOT ALL CREATED EQUAL.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT DEBATE AND THAT IS GOING TO COME UP.
BUT I KNEW THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FIRST AND IT HASN'T HAPPENED.
THE SECOND NUMBER THAT BOTHERS ME IS THE COST OF RUNNING THE CITY WENT UP NINE PERCENT LAST YEAR.
AM I RIGHT N THAT FIGURE? THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT.
COST IS RUNNING THE CITY, PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES WE ALREADY PROVIDE WENT UP BY NINE PERCENT.
YET WE'RE ONLY ALLOWED TO INCREASE REVENUE BY 3.5 PERCENT ON EXISTING PROPERTY, WHICH COMES OUT TO WHAT, 5 PERCENT SOMETHING ON TOTAL.
WE'RE STILL 3,4 PERCENT SHORT.
JUST SAY, KEEPING YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER.
TO SAY, WELL, LET'S JUST TAKE A MILLION OFF HERE AND MILLION OFF THERE AND WE'LL GO FIND ME SOME WAYS, IS SIMPLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
YOU'RE WINDING UP, YOU'RE ABOUT TO PASS A DEFICIT BUDGET BECAUSE WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO. I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT IT.
>> OF COURSE, THE SERVICES HAVE GONE UP BECAUSE OF TOURISTS.
CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND DO THAT ONE, JOHN?
>> YEAH. MY POINT IS, I THINK THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING PROPOSAL.
I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY THE THINKING THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO FUND THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES AND YOU DON'T WANT TO FUND THROUGH SALES TAXES.
REALLY KNOWS CONTROL, WHAT IT'S AFFECT IS GOING TO BE.
IT'S PROBABLY A TAX RATE THAT YOU CAN SET.
THEN THE ANSWER IS GOING TO BE THROUGH USE OF PIECES IN SOME FORM.
WHAT THOSE ARE AND YOU HAD TO BE CREATED.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF CREATIVITY.
IT JUST POPPED IN MY MIND ON THIS.
I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE 4,623 UNITS HAVE IMPROPER HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS ON THEM? HAS ANYONE DONE A STUDY ON THAT AND MADE DETERMINATIONS AS TO HOW MANY OF THESE ARE TREATED AS HOMESTEADS AND HAVE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND THEY'RE NOT PAYING AS MUCH TAXES AS THEY SHOULD, THAT THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER.
>> I THINK YOU'LL FIND SOMETHING ON THEM, NUMBER.
BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT.
>> I THINK IF THERE'S ANY EXCLUSION THAT WILL PAY THEIR HOMESTEADS OR OTHERS.
YOU GOT A HOMESTEAD ON YOUR HOUSE, BUT IF YOU WANTED TO SHORT-TERM RENTAL IT WHILE YOU WERE OUT OF TOWN. I DON'T KNOW.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RULE IS ON THAT.
>> I DON'T THINK THE STATE LAW.
>> IT'S A MATTER OF INTENT WHERE YOUR HOMESTEAD IS.
>> IT'S LIKE WHERE YOU LIVE, WHETHER YOU LIVED IN THE DISTRICT OR TOWN. [LAUGHTER]
>> BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT WERE HOMES NOW OR ON RENTALS AND FOR OUR ONLY SHORT-TERM RENTALS, BUT PEOPLE NEVER REMOVED THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
>> DID YOU ALL DISCUSS ANYTHING ON REDUCING THE TAX RATE TO NO NET REVENUE RATE OR SOMEWHERE IN-BETWEEN THERE?
>> I GUESS, I DIDN'T DISCUSS ANY OF THESE ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN THE COUNCIL, SHORT-TERM RENTALS, THE PARK [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE DISCUSSED THOSE, WE DISCUSSED PARKS.
WE DID NOT DISCUSS SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
>> [NOISE] THAT'S THE REAL DEBATE.
DO YOU REDUCE THIS 3.5 PERCENT? WHEN DO YOU DO IT? HOW YOU DO IT?
>> WE DISCUSSED. OUR CONCERN WAS BUILD A CAR PORT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE.
IF YOU HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE WHICH WILL START BRINGING REVENUE IN IMMEDIATELY, OCTOBER 1, THEN BUDGET FOR IT.
IF THAT SYSTEM IS NOT IN PLACE, IT IS EFFECTIVELY BETTING ON THE CURRENT, THEN IT IS NOT PRUDENT TO BUDGET FOR IT.
THAT WAS REALLY THE CRUX OF THE DISCUSSION ON THERE AND IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT ALL THESE THINGS WERE IN DISCUSSION PHASES AND IMPLEMENTATION PHASE IS GOING TO BE DELAYED.
>> WELL, THIS IS IN PLACE, THOUGH.
IT JUST THAT WE NEED TO RAISE THE NUMBER OF [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS, YOU ALL CAN DO YOURSELF THOUGH.
I DON'T WANT TO READ. THE OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY?
>> COUNCIL, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO.
DAVID, YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS?
>> THE SYSTEM DEBATE IS NOT ENDING HERE.
>> WELL, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS, IF THIS MATCH YOUR APPROVAL.
FIRST OF ALL, LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THAT YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF SO THAT WE CAN
[00:35:03]
GET THOSE ANSWERED AND LET THEM GO AND RELEASE THEM.ARE THERE ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OTHER THAN THE BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF?
>> MY QUESTION IS ONLY COMMENT.
COUNCILMAN BOUVIER HAD ASKED THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DWI ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S WHAT I THINK.
I WANTED TO POINT TO THE STEP PROGRAM, THAT IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA TODAY THAT HAS AN ADDITIONAL [OVERLAPPING] .
I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH TECH.
[OVERLAPPING] BUT IT'S NOT A TRICKLE, $45,000 I THINK TO SUPPLEMENT [INAUDIBLE].
>> IT WILL HAVE THAT ON OUR SEPTEMBER 15TH AGENDA WHERE WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THE [INAUDIBLE] SITUATION AND HOW WE CAN INTERFACE WITH THAT. JOHN.
>>THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.
I THINK WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN ANOTHER MEETING.
THE CULTURAL ARTS ITEM 10A, WAS THIS ONE A WORKSHOP?
>> YEAH, WE WORKSHOPPED IT LAST MONTH.
>> I DON'T THINK WE DISCUSSED IT, THE ONE THAT YOU MISSED.
>> WE'VE HAD IT A WHILE IN THE PAST [OVERLAPPING].
>> RECENTLY RAISING THE CULTURAL ARTS ALLOCATION OUT THERE HISTORIC LINE.
>> WHERE'S THAT REVENUE THAT MONEY COME FROM?
>> JOHN, WHEN YOU MISS A MEETING THEN WE CAN ALWAYS SAY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER].
>> I MISS ONE MEETING AND ALL THESE ISSUES COME UP.
>> ONE MORE THING. WE'RE THROUGH WITH EDDIE.
>> CRAIG AND MAYOR, MAY I SUGGESTS THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS WITH THIS BIG GAP IN THE MIDDLE, WHY DON'T WE JUST MOVE THE DISCUSSIONS TO THE ACTUAL MEETING WHEN WE VOTE TONIGHT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE FROM A TRANSPARENCY STANDPOINT.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TUNE OUT THAT DON'T CARE ABOUT INTERVIEWS FOR THESE OTHER THINGS AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DO THIS IN A TRANSPARENT MANNER WHERE PEOPLE CAN WATCH IT, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT NOW, DO IT AT THE MEETING TONIGHT.
>> I'M FINE WITH THAT PERSONALLY.
IN A WORKSHOP SETTING IT IS A LITTLE EASIER TO DO THAT, BUT LET'S CONTINUE ON.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON NON BUDGET ITEMS ON THE AGENDA?
>> I'VE SAID IT ALL. GOOD LUCK.
>> WE'LL PROBABLY TALK SOME MORE THOUGH. THANK YOU THOUGH.
ROB, ON THIS ONE, THIS IS A CHANGE ORDER OF $3,500 TO TERACON FOR ADDITIONAL SOURCE TESTING.
>> IT'S ACTUALLY ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES.
WE'RE DOING THE FOUNDATION DESIGN FOR THE ELEVATED RESTROOM FACILITY OUT THERE.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER ORIGINALLY WANTED JUST CONCRETE PAIRS AND WITH THAT THEY CHANGED SOME OF THE DESIGN A LITTLE BIT.
THIS IS TO ADD DESIGN ELEMENTS FOR TIMBER PEERS AS WELL.
THIS CAN CHANGE THE SIZE FROM 36-INCH OTTER CAST-IN-PLACE PILES.
WE SWITCHED THOSE DOWN TO 18-INCH SO WE'RE DOING SOME DIFFERENT SIZES TO TRY AND OPTIMIZE DESIGN.
>> EIGHTEEN INCH CONCRETE ORDER AND TIMBER?
>> THE TIMBER WOULD BE FOR THE RAMP STRUCTURES TAKING YOU UP TO THAT ELEVATED PLATFORM SO YES.
>> IT'S NOT ADDITIONAL SOIL TESTING, BUT IT'S ACTUAL [OVERLAPPING].
>> THIS IS ACTUAL DESIGN ANALYSIS FOR THE FOUNDATION DESIGN.
THE CHANGING OF ENGINEER'S DESIGNED THE FOUNDATION SYSTEM BASED ON THE LOADING CONDITION PROVIDED BY THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING ABOVE THE GROUND, THE GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERS DOING THE DESIGN BELOW GROUND SO IT'S DIVIDED BOARD.
BASED ON NEW LOAD ANALYSIS PROVIDED BY THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER WE NEED TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS DONE FOR THE GEO-TECH TO MAKE SURE THE FOUNDATION IS SUFFICIENT.
>> OKAY. IT SEEMS A LITTLE LATE IN THE GAME TO DO THIS, BUT SINCE WE'RE AT 90% DESIGN ON THIS PROJECT, IT JUST WORRIES ME.
>> IT'S SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO BE THE PILOT, IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME.
>> THEY'RE TRYING TO BE THE PILOT IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME.
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO DOWNSIZE THE PILE AND YOU SAVE MONEY ON THE BUILD SIDE SO YOU'RE PAYING FOR IT ON THE DESIGN SIDE.
WELL, HOPEFULLY YOU'LL SAVE MORE THAN $3,500 IF WE DOWNSIZE THE BOTTOM.
>> WELL, YOU WILL, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULD NEED ADDITIONAL IF YOU DESIGNED FOR THE LARGER PILING HANDLES.
>> TERACON IS THE ONE WHO'S DOING THE DESIGN?
[00:40:02]
>> TERACON IS DOING THE DESIGN OF THE FOUNDATIONAL ITSELF, SO THE PILINGS.
THEN CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER IS CREATING THE GRADE BEAM THAT TIES INTO THE TOP OF THOSE PILES AND THEN HE'S GOING ABOVE THE PILE.
>> WHY WOULDN'T THE GEO-TECH GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE PILING WAS?
>> THEY GAVE THAT TO US INITIALLY BASED ON SOLELY CONCRETE.
BY ADDING TIMBER IT HAS DIFFERENT ANALYSIS BECAUSE EACH ONE YOU HAVE ON DIFFERENT LOADS AND THE CONNECTIONS.
>> THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER DOESN'T JUST TAKE THE GEO TECH AND DO THAT HIMSELF BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING TERACON.
>> WE ARE PAYING TERACON. THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER IS FOCUSING ON FROM THE FOUNDATION UP.
>> COMMERCIAL IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN MY WORLD, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
>> ORIGINALLY WE HAD GEO-TECH POINTING TO THE SCOPE OF THE ENGINEER THAT GOT CUT OUT ORIGINALLY AND THEN CITY BROUGHT IT BACK IN TO GO AND DO IT SO WE HAD DONE IT INDEPENDENTLY.
HAD WE LEFT IT IN THE ORIGINAL SCOPE, THIS NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> ANYTHING ELSE, SIR? THANK YOU.
>> I DID HAVE A QUESTION ON 11C.
DOES THIS COVER CAR BREAK-INS AND THINGS LIKE THAT OR IS THIS JUST DOES STOLEN CARS OR THUGS AND CHASE?
>> THE OTHER TASK FORCE HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE REQUIRES SOME TIME.
ORIGINALLY BY THE STATE OF THEM THROUGH LEGISLATION AND THE COUNTY RUNS THAT.
WE HAVE ALLOCATED ONE OFFICER TO THAT TASK FORCE AND THEY WORK ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
BUT HE IS ASSIGNED ANY AND ALL VEHICLES THEFTS, BUT AS FAR AS BURGLARIES, THINGS LIKE THAT, NO, MA'AM.
>> BUT THEY ARE ENGAGED IN THINGS LIKE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT AND CRIMES AGAINST CARS, YOU WOULD SAY THAT.
>> WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF CAR BREAK-INS.
>> YEAH. CAR BREAK-INS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT ACTUAL THEFT, IN FACT, CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND CRIMES INVOLVING CARS THEY ARE INVOLVED IN BECAUSE THEY GO BACK AND THEY GO BACK THROUGH AND THEY'RE NOT JUST TRYING TO CATCH THE GUYS DOING IT, BUT THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO CATCH THE GUYS FENCING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, SO ANY CRIMES INVOLVING IT.
BASICALLY, AUTO CRIME TASK FORCE WAS CREATED WITH FUNDING THROUGH A FEE THAT THE INSURERS PAY AND SO ANYTHING THAT WOULD AFFECT A CAR INSURANCE CLAIM IS REALLY WHAT THEY'RE FOCUSED ON, SO CAR THEFT, VANDALISM TO A CAR, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO BE FOCUSED.
>> VERY GOOD. COUNCIL, ANY OTHER MEMBERSHIP?
>> ONE QUICK THING IF I COULD ASK.
>> NO, I'M SORRY. THIS IS FOR MICHELE.
DID WE GET AN ANSWER ON THE EXPIRATION ON THE KEPPRA 11?
>> THE EXPIRATION IS 24 MONTHS, BUT THAT IS FOR THE LOCAL MATCH.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO ME VERY BRIEFLY.
>> THE 24 MONTHS EXPIRATION DATE IS ONLY FOR THE PORTION TO LOCAL MATCH.
IT'S NOT THE ACTUAL BEACH PROJECT [OVERLAPPING].
>> SO THAT'S SOMETHING UNDER OUR CONTROL.
OUR STATE PORTION OF THIS IS NOT THREATENED BY THE 24-MONTH EXPIRATION.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL, FOR STAFF CONCERNING THE AGENDA OTHER THAN THE BUDGET? WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, FIRST OF ALL, STAFF, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WHAT WE WILL DO IS IF IT MET THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL, WE'RE GOING TO START OUR INTERVIEWS.
WE HAVE WHARVES BOARD AND THEN PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE'LL TAKE ABOUT A THREE-MINUTE BREAK TO GET EVERYBODY SITUATED AND THEN IF WE WANT TO COME BACK WITH THE BUDGET DISCUSSION THIS MORNING AFTER WE FINISH OUR INTERVIEWS WE CAN.
[NOISE] IF WE DON'T WE CAN CONTINUE THOSE THIS AFTERNOON AT OUR REGULAR MEETING ON THEM.
>> I WAS JUST TELLING COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE STAFF, THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE BUDGET.
UNLESS YOU-ALL HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WITH DOLLARS IS REALLY BETWEEN YOU GUYS AT THIS POINT.
>> WELL, AND YOURSELF. [NOISE].
LET'S TAKE ABOUT A THREE-MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TOGETHER AND WE'LL START OUR INTERVIEWS, WHATEVER THAT IS CALLED.
>> CONVENE, I BELIEVE. YOU GOT IT [BACKGROUND].
>> RECEIVED THEIR APPLICATION AND I THINK YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THAT ORDER.
WE HAVE TWO VACANCIES FOR WHARVES BOARD AND OUR FIRST WILL BE RALPH MCMORRIS.
[3.B. Interview Applicants For City Boards, Commissions, And Committees]
JANELLE, IF YOU COULD BRING RALPH IN. [BACKGROUND][00:45:08]
[BACKGROUND] [INAUDIBLE] WILL BE VIRTUAL.HE WILL NOT BE HERE TODAY, BUT HE'S GOING TO BE VIRTUAL.
>> RALPH, COME ON UP AND HAVE A SEAT.
IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN AS THE CEO.
RALPH, YOU'VE BEEN ON THAT SIDE OF THE INTERVIEWS AND THIS SIDE OF THE INTERVIEWS.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'LL START WITH A SHORT STATEMENT FROM YOU ON ANYTHING YOU WANT US TO KNOW WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THE WHARVES BOARD.
THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
>> RIGHT, OKAY. WELL, THE REASON I WANT TO BE ON THE WHARVES BOARD IS, I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS HERE IN GALVESTON FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, REBUILT MY BUSINESS IN GALVESTON.
I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO DO BUSINESS IN GALVESTON.
MY FIRST ENTREPRENEUR WAS BACK WHEN I WAS 13 YEARS OLD.
I WAS IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN, STARTED POPCORN BUSINESS.
BUT WHEN I WAS IN PAKISTAN, MY DAD WAS AN ARMY SERGEANT AND I DID A LOT OF TRAVEL WITH HIM.
I GOT TO SEE THE REST OF THE WORLD AND LEARNED HOW MUCH I APPRECIATED BEING AN AMERICAN.
UNTIL YOU'VE SEEN POVERTY IN LIKE PAKISTAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES, YOU REALLY DON'T VALUE WHAT YOU HAVE HERE.
WHEN I GRADUATED FROM GEORGIA TECH, I JOINED THE 82ND AIRBORNE, WHICH IS A VOLUNTEER UNIT.
I'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING EVER SINCE.
THAT WAS DURING VIETNAM, AND INCIDENTALLY, I GOT MY NICKNAME LIEUTENANT BLENDER BECAUSE I HAD THE ONLY BLENDER ON THE ISLAND WHEN I WAS THERE.
BUT GOING FORWARD, AFTER I GRADUATED FROM HARVARD IN BUSINESS AND FINANCE, I VOLUNTEERED FOR EVERY COMMUNITY I'VE LIVED IN, FROM ATLANTA TO HOUSTON AND TO GALVESTON, AND FOR PROBABLY THE LAST 20 YEARS IN GALVESTON.
CURRENTLY, I'M NOT VOLUNTEERING ANYWHERE, WORKING HARD ON MY BUSINESS.
WHAT I THINK I WOULD BRING TO THE WHARVES BOARD IS I'VE REPRESENTED THE PEOPLE OF GALVESTON.
I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN THE PEOPLE OF GALVESTON.
I FEEL LIKE THE WHARVES BOARD ALREADY HAS GOOD PEOPLE ON IT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT SO THAT I WILL ALWAYS KEEP MY FOCUS ON THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY.
AND ALSO WITH MY BUSINESS BACKGROUND, I LIKE TO TELL FOLKS I'M CONSERVATIVE FINANCIALLY BUT SOCIALLY LIBERAL.
I'D LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DECISION PROCESS AT THE WHARVES BOARD.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING WELL THERE, AND LIKE ANY SITUATION, THERE'S ALWAYS OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE IT, TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.
BEING AN ENGINEER, THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE ALL MY LIFE.
ANY QUESTIONS Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE?
>> LET'S OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS FOR MR. MCMORRIS.
>> I'M SORRY THAT I DON'T KNOW YOU PERSONALLY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
>> WELL, I'VE EATEN YOUR ICE CREAM [LAUGHTER].
>> I'M ABOUT TO DRINK YOUR MARGARITAS.
>> OKAY, SO THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.
YOUR BUSINESS IS THE MARGARITAS DOWN OFF ON POSTOFFICE WHERE THE PURITY SIGN IS.
>> SO I DO KNOW BECAUSE I'VE TALKED TO YOU BEFORE THAT.
>> YES. I ENJOY WATCHING YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORT HERE ON GALVESTON.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, MIKE, THAT YOU HAVE?
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT BUSINESS IT WAS TO START WITH. YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S OPEN IT UP TO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL.
IF YOU WERE APPOINTED TO THE WHARVES BOARD, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST PRESSING DECISION ISSUE OVER THERE THAT YOU FEEL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED?
>> FROM THE CITY STANDPOINT, I THINK IT'S THE QUESTION OF TRAFFIC GOING FORWARD.
THEY ARE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS, ADDING A TWO-LANE ROAD.
[00:50:03]
BUT I WOULD LIKE MORE FOCUS ON HOW TO MAKE TRAFFIC A BETTER SITUATION.I LIVE ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM THE NEW TERMINAL.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SEEING THAT NEW TERMINAL BUILT.
I'VE BEEN WALKING DISTANCE FROM ALL OF THE PORT AREA.
BUT TRAFFIC AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WHEN I WAS IN ATLANTA, I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL, CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION.
WE GOT ROADS BUILT, WE GOT SOME MAJOR HIGHWAYS THAT ARE THERE, I PARTICIPATED ON, I DIDN'T BUILD.
BUT AS A COUNCIL, WE SAW THE ADVANTAGE TO THE PEOPLE AND THE BUSINESSES.
WHEN I WAS IN HOUSTON, I ALSO SERVED ON TRANSPORTATION AS THEY WERE LOOKING TO EXPAND.
YOU'RE SEEING THE EXPANSION NOW.
WHEN I LIVED IN MERLIN, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND WE THREW OUR TWO CENTS IN ON THAT.
I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN INTEREST IN TRANSPORTATION, MORE OF THE ROAD KIND.
I DO IMPORT THROUGH THE PORT OF HOUSTON CONTAINERS FOR MY BUSINESS.
BUT I HAVE NO CONNECTION OR ECONOMIC INTERESTS IN ANY BUSINESS AT THE PORT.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD, THAT YOU HAVE INDEPENDENT VOICES THERE, REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE AND THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
>> THANK YOU, RALPH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES.
>> ONE MORE. HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF THE ILA ON THE PORT OF GALVESTON?
MY HEARING AID BLINKED [LAUGHTER] AND SO I MISSED THE L. I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR IN THIS COUNTRY OF UNIONS, AND I LIKE THIS.
I'M GLAD WE'RE SEEING THE RESURGENCE OF UNIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE PEOPLE NEED TO BE REPRESENTED IN THE WEALTH THAT'S CREATED IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE ILA, I HOPED THEY WOULD EXPAND THEIR MEMBERSHIP AND OPEN IT TOO.
I DON'T KNOW, PLEAD IGNORANCE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY REPRESENT THE CREWS, WORKERS. DO THEY?
>> YEAH. THEY'RE THE PORTERS ON THE CRUISE SHIPS, PEOPLE THAT HANDLE THE BAGGAGES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> RIGHT. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER WORKERS THERE, PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH THE PASSENGERS.
I HAVE FRIENDS THAT CHECK THE PASSENGERS IN AND I DON'T REMEMBER IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE OR THEY'RE MEMBERS AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CONTINUATION.
WE WENT FROM WHERE FOLKS THOUGHT UNIONS WERE TOO POWERFUL AND TOO MUCH INFLUENCE UNTIL THE PENDULUM SWUNG BACK THE OTHER WAY AS CONSERVATISM AND FOLKS GOT INTERESTED IN THAT.
BUT I THINK NOW WE'RE SEEING THE CONTINUAL PENDULUM SWING HERE WHERE WHEN WEALTH STARTS GETTING CONCENTRATED TOO MUCH IN ONE AREA AND DENIED IN OTHER AREAS, I THINK, FORTUNATELY, IN THIS COUNTRY WE CAN STAND UP AND JOIN THINGS AND PARTICIPATE.
THAT'S WHY I LIKE HELPING OUT.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? RALPH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'LL BE RANKING THE CANDIDATES AND THEY WILL BE APPOINTED IN ON THE 15TH.
>> ROBERT GIRNDT IS OUR NEXT CANDIDATE.
>> WHO CURRENTLY SITS ON THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, BY THE WAY.
>> HE DOES. HE'S SERVED ON A NUMBER OF THINGS.
YOU MAY RECOGNIZE ROBERT, HE WORKS AT HOME DEPOT.
>> HEY, GOOD MORNING. HOW IS EVERYONE?
>> HAVE A SEAT IF YOU WOULD, SIR.
>> ROBERT, YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS. I THINK YOU ARE.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO START, GIVE YOU A SHORT TIME TO JUST DO AN INTRODUCTION OF YOURSELF.
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO INCLUDE IN THAT, MAYBE WHY YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THE WHARVES BOARD.
>> WELL, AGAIN. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ROBERT GIRNDT.
I LIVE AT 3016, AVENUE O, WHICH IS IN THE COUNCIL DISTRICT 1.
[00:55:04]
MY WIFE AND I, WE PURCHASED THAT HOME IN 2015 OR SO.BEFORE THAT, WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER HOME ON Q AND A HALF IN DISTRICT 2.
I WORKED FOR THE MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS THERE.
FOUR YEARS PREVIOUS AND OTHERS.
I WAS IN CITY GOVERNMENT FOR ABOUT 34 YEARS TOTAL.
I RETIRED. I GUESS THAT WASN'T FOR ME.
ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I RETIRED, I WENT TO WORK FOR THE HOME DEPOT OVER HERE.
I'VE BEEN THERE FOR SIX YEARS.
I'M A MANAGER OF OUR MERCHANDISING TEAM.
ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, WELL IT WAS SIX YEARS AGO.
I SAT IN THIS ROOM AND MAYOR JIM YARBROUGH WAS STANDING, CRAIG WAS THERE AND I CAME IN JUST WANTING TO SERVE.
JUST WANTING TO SERVE, WANTING TO GIVE BACK.
I INTERVIEWED SOMEHOW FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I PROBABLY DIDN'T DO VERY WELL.
I'M USED TO PUBLIC SAFETY BACK THEN AND WHEN YOU THINK POLICE, FIRE RELATED, WHATEVER.
ANYWAY, BUT MAYOR JIM SAT DOWN THERE AND HE SAID, "YOU KNOW.
IF YOU DON'T MAKE IT ON THIS BOARD, WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU SOMEWHERE." I SERVED THE NEXT SIX YEARS [LAUGHTER] UP UNTIL NOW ON THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS.
I FIRST STARTED SERVING WITH DAVID. WE SERVED TOGETHER.
ANYWAY, TERM LIMITED AND I STILL HAVE THAT DESIRE TO SERVE MORE.
I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT BECAUSE Y'ALL DON'T WANT TO HEAR ALL ABOUT ME OR ABOUT HOME DEPOT.
I'M SURE BECAUSE THAT'S ABOUT ALL I KNOW.
>> REALLY YOU TOUCHED ON A LITTLE BIT.
BUT WHY EXACTLY DO YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THE BOARD? GO AHEAD.
>> JUST TO GIVE BACK. JUST KEEP DOING THAT.
HONESTLY, DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER FUTURE PLANS TO DO ANYTHING.
I ENJOY WORKING AT THE HOME DEPOT.
I'VE TALKED TO MY DISTRICT MANAGER WHO'S ACTUALLY MY IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR.
I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW AND HE DOESN'T SEE WHEN TUESDAY OF THE MONTH OR WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BE A PROBLEM WHATSOEVER.
I'M PRETTY FLEXIBLE WITH MY TIME, BUT GIVING BACK.
I HAVEN'T ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON, THAT'LL OLD THING.
BUT I GOT HERE AS QUICK AS I DO THAT AGAIN.
[LAUGHTER]. BUT ANYWAY MY WIFE AND I JUST LOVE IT HERE.
WE WANT TO SEE THE CITY GROW AND DO WELL.
THAT INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR EACH PART OF IT, SUPPORT AN ENTERPRISE FUND OR THE SEAT.
I JUST WANT TO KEEP GOING. REALLY DO.
>> YOU SEEING ANY SPECIFIC IDEAS OR ISSUES THAT YOU'D LIKE TO BRING TO THE BOARD OR ANY ISSUES YOU SEE OUT THERE?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I DO SEE IS THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE. Y'ALL PRETTY MUCH.
I WAS SITTING BACK HERE IN THE WORKSHOP FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE BETWEEN CRUISE AND CARGO.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN PROVEN THAT PANDEMIC SHUT DOWN THE CRUISE.
DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TO KEEP IT GOING? I DON'T THINK SO. THERE HAS TO BE THAT BALANCE.
IT'S PROBABLY PRETTY EASY TO TAKE THE CRUISE LINE MONEY AND BUILD MORE TERMINALS AND ALL THAT.
BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME IT LIKE AN APPROVED FOR WHAT, TWO YEARS OR SO 18 MONTHS OF LIFE THAT. YOU DON'T NEED SOMETHING.
I SEE SOME CHALLENGES IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
I KNOW THAT THE WATER TARIFF, EVERYTHING.
BUT INFRASTRUCTURE ARE HUGE CHALLENGES FOR THE PORT.
THEY HAVE TO KEEP THAT UP, HAVE TO KEEP THAT GOING AS AGENT.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE MONEY? THROUGH INCREASED REVENUE WITH CARGO.
CRUISE LINES DON'T SEEM TO BE DOING TOO BAD.
INCREASED USER PEAKS. SOMEBODY SAID THAT.
IT'S NOT TOO BAD. MY WIFE AND I WE HAVEN'T TAKEN A CRUISE IN QUITE SOME TIME.
BUT SHE'S ALREADY BOOKED ONE FOR NEXT YEAR.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. GRUNT?
>> VERY GOOD. ROBERT, I THINK SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY SAY, WELL,
[01:00:02]
WHAT'S YOUR TIE TO THE BOARD RATHER THAN ANOTHER COMMITTEE.>> I'M GOING A CITIZEN OF GALVESTON.
I WANT TO SEE THIS PORT SUCCEED.
I HOPE THAT IT WOULD ALWAYS BRING IN MORE REVENUE TO HELP OFFSET ANY DEFICITS SO WE CAN LOWER THE TAX RATE.
>> ABOUT TWO HOUSES. [LAUGHTER]
ONLY ONE OF THEM IS HOMESTEAD.
[LAUGHTER] MY WIFE IS A RETIRED ACCOUNTANT.
[NOISE] WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
I JUST WANT TO BE A PART OF IT.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF IT.
I SEE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES FIRSTHAND.
ANY OF YOU'VE EVER COME INTO THE STORE, MIGHT KNOW THAT.
ME JUST HELPING OUT AND MAYBE TRY TO SOLVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF IT.
I KNOW WE DON'T GET ANY MORE BIG STUFF LIKE FOR HOME DEPOT THERE.
NEVER KNOW. PUT UP SOME CRANES.
>> BUT FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVING.
THE CITY HERE GREATLY APPRECIATES THAT.
WE'LL BE DOING OUR INTERVIEWS TODAY.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE MAKING OUR APPOINTMENTS TO 15.
COUNCIL WILL RANK ALL THE CANDIDATES ONCE THE INTERVIEWS ARE DONE AND IF TEAMS WILL KNOW WHAT THOSE RANKINGS WILL TELL US. GOOD FOR THEM.
>> ONE LAST THING THAT I'VE COME TO.
I READ A LOT OF THE ARTICLES ABOUT THE PORT AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE PAPER, I GUESS.
ONE THING I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE PORT ADMINISTRATION AND THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT ALL OF THAT IS OWNED BY THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND THEY HAVE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU GUYS.
Y'ALL ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS HERE.
AGAIN, THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
ANYWAY, JUST REALLY NEEDS A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WHICH I KNOW I CAN BRING.
I WAS IN VIENNA CITY GOODMAN FOR MANY YEARS.
>> VERY GOOD. GREAT EXPERIENCE.
>> THANKS FOR YOUR TIME REALLY.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN.
>> I'LL GET DOWN AT HOME DEPOT FOR YOU.
>> I'M ON. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
JANELLE HAD NOT HAD ANY RESPONSE FROM.
IF IT'S NOT MARK, IT WILL BE KELLY TUBMAN.
REALLY CONSOLIDATION TO [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING].
>> GOOD MORNING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK I GAVE YOU AN APOLOGY.
I GOT YOU A LITTLE TO CHECK YOUR COUNCIL.
>> THAT'S THE LAST MINUTE HERE.
>> KELLY, GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE THIS MORNING.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL LET YOU MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT.
HOWEVER INFORMATION YOU WANT TO IMPART TO COUNSEL HERE A BRIEF STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
>> I REALLY DIDN'T PREPARE ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE COVER LETTER THAT I HAVE FOR YOU AND OBVIOUSLY, I HAD BEEN IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY BOTH WITH A PAYCHECK AND WITHOUT A PAYCHECK SINCE I WAS BORN PRACTICALLY AND AS A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF GALVESTON, AS WELL AS MY FATHER, MY GRANDFATHER, MY GREAT GRANDFATHER.
THE CITY AND THE WHARVES HAVE ALWAYS HAD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART AND AS YOU CAN TELL FROM MY RESUME, MOST OF MY CAREER IS MARITIME RELATED, SO IT'S A PASSION OF MINE.
IT RUNS THE GAMUT FROM SAFETY TO NAVIGATION, TO SECURITY, TRADE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE LIKE.
I GUESS YOUR BIGGEST QUESTION WOULD BE WHY WOULD I SIT HERE AND WANT TO BE ON THE WHARF SPORT? ONCE AGAIN, THE PASSION FOR THE WHARVES AND HOW THE CITY CAN BENEFIT FROM ALL OF THE INDUSTRY THAT THE POOR CAN BRING IN, WHICH HAS REALLY DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB AT DIVERSITY WITH INDUSTRY, SOME REAL ESTATE, RECREATIONAL,
[01:05:02]
AND OF COURSE, THE PIER 21, IT'S A BIT BIG DRAW AS WELL.>> I OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR COMPANY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PORT, BECAUSE NEW LEASE PROPERTY, BUT YOU DO NOT COMPETE WITH THE PORT?
>> NO, MA'AM. THAT'S STRICTLY A BLAZE OF THE LAND.
WE DO PROVIDE SERVICES, SALVAGE THOUGH, RESPONSE.
WE HAVE SOME HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY.
OBVIOUSLY WE DO DO SOME BUSINESS WITH A PORT.
THAT'S JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OUR BUSINESS THAT WE DO.
THERE IS NO COMPETITION WHERE NOT A CARGO PORTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, I HAVEN'T READ THE LEASE, BUT IT'S A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD LEASE.
IT'S JUST A LEASE OF THE LAND AND THE NECESSARY THINGS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE LEGALLY FOR THAT.
>> WHY DOES THE I SERVE ON SOME BOARDS WITH KELLY AND I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND HER TO BE A PORT WORKFORCE THEY BELIEVE? THANK YOU FOR INTERVIEWING ME.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. I DID FORGET THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF MY LETTER, MY RESUME, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THAT AND IT WAS ALL TEAMWORK.
MY POOR COORDINATION TEAM IS LIKE THE LAND ON PELICAN ISLAND.
IT IS INDUSTRY AND IT'S LIQUID.
IT'S DRY CARGO, IT'S FACILITIES, CHEMICALS, AND THE PORTS OF GALVESTON, TEXAS CITY, HOUSTON FREEPORT AND WE ALL PUT OUR OWN COMPANIES AND WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
WE MANAGED TO SHUFFLE THINGS AROUND AS BEST WE CAN TO GET EVERYBODY BACK UP AND RUNNING.
>> EVERY QUESTION, KELLY, SINCE YOU'RE ON AT THE PORT THERE AND DOING BUSINESS THERE, PELICAN ISLAND?
>> MAJORITY OF THAT LANDS OWNED BY THE PORT OF HOUSTON, AS YOU MAY KNOW IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN DEVELOPING THAT LAND, WORKING WITH THE PORT OF HOUSTON, ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT THAT YOU MAY HAVE?
>> I KNOW THAT THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE SOME PROVISIONS THAT I THINK IT'S THE FUNDING PERHAPS, MAYBE, I HATE TO MISS QUOTE, BUT I THINK IT'S THE FUNDING, THE WAY IN WHICH IT WAS FUNDED.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
DEFINITELY WOULD BE IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON'S BEST INTERESTS FOR US TO GET THAT BACK.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? YES. JONATHAN.
>> I'VE KNOWN KELLY FOR A LONG TIME. BUT I HAVE COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
YOU HIT ON THIS A LITTLE BIT WITH MAURICE QUESTION ABOUT YOUR FAMILY'S BUSINESS THERE, [NOISE] DO YOU SEE ANY CONFLICT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SERVING ON THE BOARD WITH BEING THE LEASEHOLDER AT THE PORT ALLISON AND BEING AT MARITIME BUSINESS?
>> I THINK IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPING PELICAN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WHARVES IN THE CITY.
THE PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE WAS A VIRGIN LAND.
WE HAD TO GO IN AND DO ALL CUTTING PUTTING ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT YOU SEE TODAY AND THAT INCLUDES THERE IS NO SEWER SYSTEM IN PELICAN, SO THAT INCLUDED TRULY INFRASTRUCTURE.
I'M UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO KNOW THE ISSUES THAT YOU DO ENCOUNTER OVER THERE.
EVERY BOARD THAT I'VE SERVED ON, INCLUDING AMERICAN WATERWAY OPERATORS, WATERWAYS COUNCIL, POOR COORDINATION TEAM, THERE'S ALWAYS THAT BALANCE THAT YOU HAVE BECAUSE OF YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE, THAT SOMETHING COULD BE PERCEIVED AS BEING A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS.
IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT I READILY RECOGNIZE, MORE THAN HAPPY TO STEP OUT.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR AMERICAN WATERWAYS OPERATORS WAS HAVE TO RECUSE MYSELF WITH THE CAVEAT THAT I CAN EXPLAIN BOTH SIDES, WHICH I DID FOR THE BOARD FOR THEIR BENEFIT.
IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING READILY APPARENT TO ME, IT'S VERY TRANSPARENT.
I DON'T HIDE THE FACT THAT OUR BUSINESS IS IN GALVESTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN GALVESTON.
I THINK IN THE EMAILS THAT I SENT YOU YESTERDAY, MY NAMESAKE VESSEL WORKS THE HARBOR FOR ALL OF MY CHILDHOOD AND I'VE BEEN TOLD HURRICANE IKE AND I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH SOMEONE ASKING
[01:10:05]
THAT QUESTION AND WE'RE ACCUSING MYSELF FROM ANYTHING IF THERE'S A PERCEPTION IT COULD BE.>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CURRENT MIX OF CRUZI CARGO, DO YOU THINK THAT'S ADEQUATE? DO YOU THINK THAT SHOULD GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER? CAN YOU JUST GET A NARROW A BIT?
>> I THINK THE NUMBERS TELL THE STORY WITH THAT OBVIOUSLY, COVID, FROM A MARITIME PERSPECTIVE, WE WERE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL CRITICAL PERSONNEL, SO OUR INDUSTRY CONTINUED TO OPERATE UNLIKE THE CRUISE SHIPS, YOU OBVIOUSLY GOT HIT PRETTY HARD WITH COVID.
THE PORT MANAGED TO KEEP FINANCIALLY SOUND AT THAT TIME WITH A LOSS OF A LOT OF REVENUE.
I THINK THAT A GOOD MIX IS IN DIVERSITY IT IS NOT A BAD IDEA.
CURRENTLY WITH THE MASTER PLAN THAT THEY HAVE GOING ON AND ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS, I THINK THAT WE WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR INDUSTRY AS WELL AS RECREATIONAL AND EVEN BENEFITING THE DOWNTOWN ON THE STRAND.
I THINK YOU SEE THAT ON THE STRAND AS WELL WITH THE BUSINESSES THAT YOU SEE THAT VIBRANT BUSINESS ON MY END.
ON THE STRAND, I THINK THAT'S A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ACCESS THAT THEY HAVE TO TOURISM AND THEN FOR THE LOCAL GALVESTON END THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY BENEFIT FROM THAT AS WELL.
>> THEN LAST QUESTION, CAN YOU TELL ME OR WHAT DO YOU THINK THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PORT THE WHARVES BOARD IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON BEING ADMINISTRATION AND COUNSEL SHOULD BE, WHAT DOES THAT MAKE UP THE WAY TO YOU?
>> I THINK I'VE SAID IT A FEW TIMES.
THE CITY OF GALVESTON HAS A BENEFIT FOR THE PORT AND THE PORT HAS BENEFIT FOR THE CITY.
IN THAT RESPECT, LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, IT'S A COLLABORATION AND ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT THE PORT HAS UNDERTAKEN, I THINK IN THE PAST YEAR, IS GRAIN MAUREEN, WHICH IS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION.
BUT AS PART OF THAT, IT'S COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS.
THAT CERTIFICATION AND I THINK THE PORT ITSELF HAS STARTED DOING SOME GOOD COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT WORK.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> HAS YOUR COMPANY EVER DONE BUSINESS OR HAD CONTRACTS WITH A PORT OF GALVESTON?
>> I COULDN'T ANSWER THAT WITHOUT LOOKING AT ALL THE DOTS THAT WE'VE DONE FOR.
SOME OF IT IS FOR CLIENTS OF THE PORT, NOT NECESSARILY THE PORT ITSELF.
WITH OUR HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY AND I THAT WE HAVE MODELED SOME OF THE PEERS.
>> VERY GOOD. WE'LL FINISH OUR INTERVIEWS TODAY.
KELLY, WE'LL MAKE HER UP AND COUNCIL WILL RANK ALL THE APPLICANTS AND THEN FROM THOSE RANKINGS WILL HAVE HER NOMINATION ON SEPTEMBER 15TH TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
MAUREEN HAD APPLIED LAST TIME ALSO BEFORE POSTPONING.
[NOISE] COUNCIL ALSO, WE HAVE A PLANNING COMMISSION REMEMBER THAT AN APPLICANT HAS A TIME CONSTRAINT.
SO I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THAT AFTER.
>> YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE.
WHAT WE'LL DO MAUREEN IS, OF COURSE, LET YOU MAKE A BRIEF STATEMENT UP FRONT HERE FOR COUNCIL, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS, SO GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> OKAY. I WAS HERE BEFORE, SO SOME OF MY SPIEL WILL BE THE SAME SORRY, BUT MY HUSBAND HEARD IT ALL.
I'M A 29-YEAR-OLD GALVESTON RESIDENT.
I'VE BEEN AT THE SAME LAW FIRM FOR 29 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN A PARTNER THERE FOR 24 YEARS.
[01:15:01]
I'M THE SECOND FEMALE PARTNER IN A 175-YEAR-OLD LAW FIRM.SO I'VE GOT A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCE, I'M A PRACTICING LAWYER, I CAN READ CONTRACTS.
WITH MY LAW PRACTICE, I'M A CERTIFIED MEDIATOR, I MEDIATE CASES TO TRY TO AVOID LITIGATION, TO SEE IF WE CAN RESOLVE CASES INSTEAD OF FIGHTING IN COURT.
I HAVE AN MBA FROM UT, I CAN READ FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SO I UNDERSTAND ACCOUNTING.
I HAVE AN ENGINEERING DEGREE FROM A&M, SO I'VE GOT A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCE.
I'VE SERVED ON A LOT OF BOARDS.
I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT OF SEVERAL, A PAST PRESIDENT ROTARY.
I WAS ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEXAS.
I'M CURRENTLY ON THE GALVESTON ISLAND HUMANE SOCIETY BOARD.
I WAS ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE.
I WAS A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE WOMEN'S CENTER, SO I'VE GOT A LOT OF BOARD EXPERIENCE AND A LOT OF WORKING WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE.
I'M A HARD WORKER, I'VE BEEN WORKING NONSTOP SINCE I WAS 14.
I'VE GOT W-2 WAGES SINCE BACK IN THE '70S.
I GOT INTERESTED IN THE WHARVES BOARD BECAUSE MY OLD LAW PARTNER, JOHN ECKEL, SERVED ON THE BOARD AND MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW HIM AND HE WAS A REALLY FINE GENTLEMAN.
ACTUALLY, I'M SITTING IN HIS OLD OFFICE AND I WAS CLEANING OUT SOME OF HIS FILES THE OTHER DAY AND ACTUALLY FOUND SOME OLD WHARVES STUFF FROM BACK.
THERE WAS A BIG ARTICLE ABOUT HOW THE WHARVES BOARD ACTUALLY AGREE ON AN ENVIRONMENTAL THING THAT JOHN AGREED WITH TELCO WORK ON SOMETHING [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] THAT WAS LIKE.
I HAD A BOAT AND I RIDE OVER TO THE HARBOR OFTEN AND IT'S REALLY CHANGED IN THE YEARS I'VE BEEN RIDING OVER THERE AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING FOR GALVESTON.
I HOPE I COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE PORT SUCCESS.
I THINK THE CITY AND THE PORT NEED TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BEST OF GALVESTON AND EVEN WITH THE PARK BOARD.
SOMETIMES THEY ALL SEEM TO OPERATE IN THEIR OWN LITTLE SILOS AND I THINK THERE'S ROOM FOR ALL OF THE ENTITIES TO WORK TOGETHER.
WHEN I'M NOT WORKING OR VOLUNTEERING, I LIKE TO BOAT, I LIKE TO HIKE, I LIKE TO RESCUE DOGS.
NOT A BIG FAN OF CATS, [LAUGHTER] BUT I CAN HELP YOU FIND ONE.
AND THEN ALSO, I'VE SPENT TOO MUCH OF MY LIFE ON FACEBOOK, BUT I HAVE A FUN PAGE CALLED MORNINGS GALVESTON COFFEE TABLE BOOK.
AND IT'S JUST A FUN PAGE THAT SHOWS FUNNY THINGS AROUND GALVESTON.
PEOPLE SEND ME PICTURES, THE GUY RUNNING DOWN THE SEAWALL WITH A BIRDCAGE ON HIS BACK.
SO IF YOU'RE BORED ONE NIGHT AND CAN'T SLEEP, CHECK OUT MY FACEBOOK PAGE.
BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> YOU'VE GOT THE QUESTIONS FOR HER? YES.
>> YES, TOUCH ON A LITTLE BIT ON WHY HE WANTED TO SERVE ON THE BOARD, BUT IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC ISSUE OR THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN YOUR MIND THAT YOU SEE AT THE PORT, AND WHERE ARE YOUR IDEAS TO ADDRESS THAT?
>> I THINK THE PORT NEEDS TO BALANCE INDUSTRY, THE INDUSTRY, AND THE LAYDOWN, THE THINGS COMING INTO THE DOCK WITH THE CRUISE SHIPS.
I THINK THEY BOTH HAVE A PLACE IN GALVESTON.
I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO TURN THE WHOLE WHARVES INTO ONE BIG CRUISE SHIP INDUSTRY.
BUT I THINK THEY BOTH CAN WORK TOGETHER.
AND WE SAW THAT WHEN THE PANDEMIC SHUT DOWN, WE LOST ALL THAT MONEY BUT SOME OF THE INDUSTRY WAS DOING WELL AND THEN SOMETIMES SOME OF THE INDUSTRY IS NOT DOING WELL AND WE'VE GOT THE PORT COMING IN.
I MEAN, THE CRUISE SHIPS COMING IN.
I THINK THERE'S A BALANCE BETWEEN ALL THAT AND THE CITY NEEDS TO WORK WITH THE PARK BOARD AND THE PORT TO FURTHER THAT.
>> MAUREEN, THE PELICAN ISLAND.
IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR QUITE A WHILE.
MAJORITY OF THAT LAND IS OWNED BY PORT OF HOUSTON.
THERE HAVE BEEN TALKS ABOUT HOW TO WORK WITH THAT AND PARTNER WITH PORT OF HOUSTON.
ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THAT?
>> I THINK YOU NEED TO GET THE BRIDGE GOING OBVIOUSLY.
THERE'S A LOT OF LAND OUT THERE THAT CAN BE USED.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE PORT OF HOUSTON ON THAT.
I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE SUPER EXPENSIVE TO DEVELOP OUT THERE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A PLAN TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND INDUSTRY TO GET THAT DEVELOPED.
BUT IT'S ALL KINDS OF LAND SITTING THERE, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
BUT I THINK THERE'S ROOM TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.
I KNOW THAT THE PORT NEEDS A LOT OF REPAIRS ON THE WEST END OF THE PORT.
IT'S INSIDE SHAPE AND THOSE SLIPS NEED TO BE FILLED IN AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>> VERY GOOD, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? YES, JOHN.
>> HOW DO YOU FEEL THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE [INAUDIBLE] AND THE WHARVES BOARD CURRENTLY AS [INAUDIBLE]?
>> I THINK IT COULD BE BETTER.
I THINK RIGHT NOW THEY OPERATE AS SEPARATE ENTITIES INSTEAD OF WORKING TOGETHER.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A BIG THING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE THAT
[01:20:02]
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE THIS IS CITY LAND.SO I THINK THE PORT NEEDS TO BE RUN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY AND NOT OPERATE IN SEPARATE SILOS.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> AS YOU MAY KNOW MAUREEN WE'LL FINISH OUR INTERVIEWS ON SEPTEMBER 15TH.
WE'LL RANK THE CANDIDATES, I SHOULD SAY.
THE COUNCIL WILL RANK THE CANDIDATES BEFORE THE 15TH AND ON THE 15TH WE'LL MAKE OUR NOMINATIONS THAT SELECT OUR APPLICANTS WHO WILL SERVE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION AND ALL YOUR OTHER.
IT'S IMPRESSIVE TO SEE YOUR RESUME.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL GIVING ME THE TIME AND IF ANYBODY WANTS TO CALL ME, I'M HAPPY TO TALK.
AND IF I COULD JUST SAY ONE MORE THING, I'M ON A SHELTER PORT.
AND MOST OF YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW THE CITY GIVES MONEY TO THE SHELTER BECAUSE WE TAKE CARE OF ALL THE STRAY DOGS AND ALL THE RABIES AND WE ARE IN A CRISIS RIGHT NOW.
SO IF ANYONE CAN FOSTER, IF YOU ALL COULD GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND SHARE, WE NEED ANIMALS OUT OF THE SHELTER.
>> YEAH. AND BIG DOGS TOO UP HERE, EVERYONE'S LOOK CUTE, FLUFFY DOG THAT'S NOT WHO'S HOMELESS IN GALVESTON.
>> I DID VISIT WITH SOMEONE FROM THE SHELTER LAST WEEK, TALKED ABOUT THEIR BUDGET.
I THINK WE'RE INCREASING THEIR BUDGET THIS YEAR.
>> SO THAT'S GOING TO BE HELPFUL.
>> THANK YOU. BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF HOMELESS ANIMALS IN GALVESTON.
>> WE JUST NEED TO FOSTER TWO ANIMALS.
CAN WE GOT A POOL THERE FOR THE DOG?
>> [OVERLAPPING] TO TAKE REALLY GONZALES THIS PICTURE, WHEN HE COMES IN BECAUSE YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM IN A SUIT, SO THIS IS GOOD.
>> IT'S FUNNY, IT WAS HOME DEPOT YESTERDAY, I WOULDN'T BE HERE [LAUGHTER]
>> THIS IS WHERE YOU GO TO FIGHT YOUR TAXES, RIGHT?
>> WILLY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
IT'S PLEASURE HAVING YOU HERE.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS ALLOW YOU A SHORT INTRO, LETTING THE COUNCIL KNOW ABOUT YOU OR WHY YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THE WHARVES BOARD, THEN WILL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTION.
>> APPRECIATE THAT, GREG. THANKS. WILLY GONZALEZ.
I'M BORN AND RAISED WITH ALL MY LIFE HERE IN GALVESTON.
SHE IS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND WE'RE RAISING TWO BOYS.
ONE IS AT SOPHOMORE SFA, THE OTHER IS A SENIOR AT O'CONNELL.
ALL THE BROTHERS WERE O'CONNELL GRADUATES.
MY WIFE IS A BALL HIGH GRADUATE, SO THERE'S A MIXED HOUSE THERE.
BUT WE LOVE THIS TOWN AND I'VE SERVED ON MANY BOARDS: ZONING BOARD, CHARTER REVIEW BOARDS.
I CHAIRED WITH GREG HERE ON PLANNING COMMISSION, REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
BEING FROM A FAMILY OF SEVEN KIDS, THERE WAS THREE BOYS, ONE GIRL, THREE MORE BOYS.
I KNOW HOW TO WORK WELL WITH SEVEN PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT [LAUGHTER] GETTING EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO GET A FEEL OF WHAT YOU WANT.
YOU LEARN HOW TO GIVE AND TAKE, AND I LEARNED HOW TO DO THAT AT A VERY EARLY AGE AND HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE ALL IN THE SAME HOUSE AND THAT'S WHAT GALVESTON IS.
WHETHER YOU'RE ON PARKS BOARD, WHARVES BOARD OR THE CITY COUNCIL THAT YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, IT'S ABOUT GALVESTON AND WE ARE A PITCHING WEDGE AWAY FROM HOUSTON, WHICH IS THE THIRD, FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO BETTER THAN HOUSTON.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT HOUSTON'S GOING TO DO BETTER THAN US SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL.
IF WE KEEP OUR HOUSE IN CHECK AND DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, OUR OPPORTUNITIES ONLY, THEY GET BIGGER AND BIGGER AS YEARS GO.
WE WANT HOUSTON TO DO WELL, BUT WE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING OUR PART.
>> EXACTLY. QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> RIGHT NOW AT THE PORT, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS AND WHAT IDEA DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU CAN BRING TO THE WHARVES BOARD TO ADDRESS THAT?
>> WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH USING PROPER LAND USE AND HOW WELL IS IT THE BEST AND MOST HIGHEST USE FOR LAND.
[01:25:03]
I KNOW THAT'S A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO GET MORE OF THE WEST PART OF THE PORT UP AND RUNNING BECAUSE THERE'S DOLLAR RIGHT THERE WAITING FOR US.REMEMBER THAT THERE'S LOCALS ENJOY THE PORT. THEY ENJOY THE WATER.
GALVESTON, I'VE SAID THIS SINCE DAY 1, THERE'S A REASON WHY THE STREETS ALIGN WITH THE PORT AND NOT THE SEAWALL.
IT STARTED RIGHT THERE AT THE PORT.
THE WEST END PART OF THE PORT AND GETTING THAT UP TO WHERE IT'S ACTUALLY MAKING MONEY AND IT'S NOT A DETRIMENT OR A HAZARD, A SAFETY HAZARD, AND THEY OWN SAFETY FOR WORKERS AND PEOPLE JUST FISHING.
BUT THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE FOR THE PORT.
>> WILLY, CURRENTLY, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE MIX BETWEEN CRUISE AND CARGO, AND WHERE DO YOU SEE THAT GOING IN THE FUTURE?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I'VE OWNED MY OWN BUSINESS AND GALVESTON FOR 30 YEARS.
MY SMALL LITTLE BITTY BUSINESS HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT IF YOU JUST EXPAND IT OUT 10-12 TIMES.
THE PANDEMIC OBVIOUSLY HAS TAUGHT US A LOT OF LESSONS, THINGS THAT WE DO WELL, THINGS THAT WE NEED TO FIX AND DO BETTER.
THE ONE THING I CAN TELL YOU IS TO DIVERSIFIED.
BE READY FOR ANYTHING THAT COULD HAPPEN.
THE MIX, WE CERTAINLY LOVE THE TOURISTS.
WE'RE OUT THERE NOW. I MEAN, WE ARE IN EVERYBODY'S MOUTH.
THEY'RE TALKING OUR NAME, AND THAT'S ONLY GOOD.
THAT DOES GOOD THINGS FOR PARKS BOARD NOW AND IT DOES GOOD FOR THE CITY, AND IT INCREASES OUR TAXES UNFORTUNATELY.
>> WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> YEAH. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE MIX, I COULDN'T GIVE YOU A PERCENTAGE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE WHOLE CRUISE THING IS NEW, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, THE BIGGER AND THE MORE WE CATER TO THE CRUISES.
THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO USE THEIR BUYING POWER AGAINST THIS AT SOME POINT.
THEY HAVE TO. I MEAN, WE CAN MOVE OVER HERE IF YOU DON'T DO THIS FOR US.
WELL, THAT'S FINE, BUT WE CAN NEGOTIATE AS WELL.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE STRONGER ON THE CARGO PART OF IT TO BE ABLE TO TELL THEM GO AHEAD AND GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT BECAUSE THIS IS OUR BEST SHOT.
BUT BY HAVING A STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE, I THINK WE CAN NEGOTIATE BETTER DEALS WITH THE CRUISERS.
>> WILLY, HI. GLAD TO SEE TODAY.
HOW DO YOU THINK THE CITY AND THE PORT CAN BETTER WORK TOGETHER TO BENEFIT CITIZENS OF GALVESTON?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I THINK ALL BOARDS ACROSS THE BOARD NEED TO WORK TOGETHER BETTER AND GOOD COMMUNICATION, ITS VITAL.
LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME FAMILY.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WORKING TOGETHER BETTER, OPEN COMMUNICATION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, GO TOUR PORT.
LET'S TALK TO THEM AND FIND OUT.
I NOTICED ON THERE I READ THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN ON MY PHONE.
BUT ONE OF THE VERY FIRST BULLET POINTS WAS TO GET ALL THE POLITICAL, I CAN'T SAY WORD FOR WORD, BUT THE POLITICAL INTERESTS IN LINE, WHICH MEANS NOT ONLY THEM, IT MEANS YOU GUYS, IT MEANS PART OF THE BOARDER.
WHAT YOU DO THERE DOES HAVE EFFECT ON TOURISM.
MY DAD WORKED ON THE POLES ON LOT OF THOSE SHIPS, [INAUDIBLE] IN THE '70S GROWING UP.
HE'S DOWN THERE WELDING WITH SOME PRETTY SERIOUS GASES GROWING UP.
I LIKE TO THINK HE WAS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SHIP WELDING SO THAT I CAN BE ON THE TOP OF THE SHIP HELPING NAVIGATE IT.
THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY I WANT TO BE HERE AND SERVE ON THIS BOARD.
>> YOU SERVED ON THE PARK BOARD, WILLY?
>> NO, SIR. NOT THE PARK BOARD.
THIS IS THE ONLY BOARD I'M INTERESTED RIGHT NOW.
>> VERY GOOD. QUESTION ON PELICAN ISLAND, THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS MAKING THAT PRODUCTIVE FOR THE CITY.
WE KNOW THAT MOST OF THAT LAND IS OWNED BY THE PORT OF HOUSTON.
>> MOST OF IT IS BUT THE WATERFRONT ON THAT SIDE, WE DO OWN.
>> THERE AGAIN, WHAT I SAID EARLIER ABOUT KNOWING WHO YOUR BIG BROTHER IS AND KNOWING WHAT YOU DO BETTER THAN HIM.
SOMETIMES IF YOU'RE QUICKER AND MORE AGILE, YOU CAN DO THINGS BETTER AND MAKE THE QUICK MONEY, THE LOW-HANGING FRUIT, SO TO SPEAK, QUICKER.
YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, WE HAVE A&M ON THAT SIDE.
A&M IS ONLY GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER.
[01:30:06]
WHETHER IT WAS PLANNING COMMISSION ZONING, MY MAJOR FOCUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO GET PEOPLE TO LIVE IN GALVESTON, RAISE THEIR KIDS IN GALVESTON, GO OFF TO SCHOOL IF YOU WANT, BUT COME BACK TO GALVESTON WHERE THEY WORK.WE KNOW THAT'S THE CHALLENGE, BECAUSE HOUSE PRICES AND THAT KIND OF THING.
BUT TO HAVE SOMETHING AT BALL HIGH.
THERE'S A LOT OF FORESTRY MAJORS THERE AND YOU GO "WHY?" WELL, BECAUSE IT'S A FOREST AREA.
WHAT ARE OUR RESOURCES? WE HAVE WATER.
WE HAVE A PORT. WE HAVE TOURISM. WE HAVE HOSPITALITY.
SO USE WHAT YOU HAVE AND EDUCATE THOSE KIDS AND GIVE THEM THE AVENUES TO STAY HERE IN THIS TOWN AND HAVE SOMETHING AT BALL HIGH WHERE IT'S A MARITIME ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, INSTEAD OF, IF I WORKED ON THE DOCKS FOR 30 YEARS MOVING BANANAS, EXPECTING MY SON TO DO THE SAME, GUESS WHAT? NOW MY SON CAN DRIVE THE SHIP.
THAT'S UPWARD MOBILITY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IN OUR KIDS.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> WILL, AFTER OUR INTERVIEWS TODAY, REALLY, WE'RE GOING TO RANK ALL THE CANDIDATES.
WE'LL GIVE THOSE TO THE CITY SECRETARY ON SEPTEMBER 15TH.
WE'LL MAKE OUR NOMINATIONS BASED ON THOSE RANKINGS.
THANK YOU FOR APPLYING AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN THE 15TH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU ALL FOR SERVING.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU, WILLY. [OVERLAPPING]
WE HAVE JIM NEDERLY VIRTUALLY.
>> THAT'S ONE OF OUR CALLS. MR. COLLINS, WOULD YOU MIND UNMUTING?
>> THERE HE IS. HEY JIM, HOW ARE YOU? CAN YOU HEAR US?
>> STILL CONNECTING. [BACKGROUND].
>> HE'S LISTENING TO THE MEETING.
>> [OVERLAPPING] MAYBE SHUT THE MEETING OFF.
>> HE'S LISTENING TO THE MEETING.
>> [LAUGHTER] JIM, CAN YOU HEAR US? JIM?
WHERE ARE YOU BY THE WAY? ARE YOU ON VACATION?
>> I'M IN CLEVELAND, OHIO ABOUT TO ATTEND MY 50TH HIGH SCHOOL REUNION.
>> THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TODAY TO BE WITH THIS BOARD.
>> WHAT WILL DO IS GIVE YOU A SHORT TIME TO DO AN INTRO, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.
>> MY NAME IS JIM NEDERLY, I MARRIED A FIFTH GENERATION BOI, JEANNI HUGHES AND EVENTUALLY I THOUGHT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT DOWN HERE TO GALVESTON.
WE'VE LIVED HERE FOR FIVE YEARS FORMALLY.
WE OWNED A PROPERTY IN COLLEGE PARK.
WE ALSO OWN A PROPERTY AT THE DAWN, AND WE OWN A PIECE OF CAMP [INAUDIBLE] SO I'M AN AVERAGE TAXPAYER.
[LAUGHTER] MY WHOLE PROFESSIONAL LIFE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.
SAME DEGREE THAT MICHAEL AUSTIN HAS.
I STARTED IN THE BUDGET OFFICE OF THE STATE OF OHIO, AND THEN MOVED TO STANDARD & POOR'S WHERE I RATED BONDS.
THEN AFTER THAT, I BECAME AN INVESTMENT BANKER STOCK STARTING AT THE OLD TEXAS COMMERCE BANK IN HOUSTON, AND THEN MOVED INTO VARIOUS FIRMS. I'VE BEEN AN INVESTMENT BANKER IN THE MUNICIPAL BOND AREA FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS UNTIL MY RETIREMENT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.
EVEN THOUGH I'VE LIVED IN HOUSTON OR DALLAS FOR FIVE YEARS, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH EVERY BOND ISSUED CITY HAS DONE UP UNTIL MY RETIREMENT SINCE 1990.
I WAS PART OF THE GROUP THAT UPDRAFT OCCURRED
[01:35:02]
INDENTURE THAT THE WARS OPERATES UNDER WHEN THEY ISSUE DEBT, SO I'M WELL FAMILIAR WITH THAT INDENTURE WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUING DEBT.I HELPED TO SUPPORT [INAUDIBLE], HE DID A VERY BAD TRANSACTION.
I HAD TO BAIL HIM OUT BACK IN '92, AND WE REFUNDED THAT BACK IN 1998.
GAVE HIM A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND GOT THEM BACK UP TO THE INVESTMENT-GRADE RATING WHERE THEY STAND TODAY.
THE BOARD AS YOU ALL KNOW AS A UTILITY OF THE CITY IS DEFINED IN THE CHARTER.
AS A BOARD MEMBER, I WOULD TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT CITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL, PARTICULARLY PEOPLE THAT ARE ELECTED BY THE VOTERS HERE ARE MORE INTEGRATED.
ONE LAST THING, I'VE BEEN A FINANCIAL ADVISOR TO THE CITY IN TWO INSTANCES BACK IN THE '90S, AND THEN FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS UP UNTIL MY RETIREMENT LAST YEAR.
BEING RETIRED, I'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO SPEND BEING ON A BOARD TO SUPPORT.
>>THANK YOU, JIM. APPRECIATE IT.
LET'S OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS, COUNCIL.
>> MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT THE BOARD CAN DO TO BETTER WORK TOGETHER?
>> WELL, FIRST OFF I THINK TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT.
I'M GOING TO PUT THIS BACK TO YOU FOLKS.
THE CITY COUNCIL, I BELIEVE NEEDS TO GIVE SOME BROAD DIRECTION TO THE PORT BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
THAT MINUTIA, BUT BROAD OUTLINES OF WHAT THEY SEE THE PORT BEING ABLE TO DO IN THE FUTURE SUCH AS THE REVENUE MIX.
DURING COVID IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH RELIANCE ON THE CRUISE SHIP BUSINESS.
IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN THEY OPEN THE LOWER CARIBBEAN FACILITY THIS FALL, THAT CONCENTRATION OF REVENUES IS GOING TO INCREASE.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WANTS TO HAVE OR DOES THE CITY WANT TO MAYBE HAVE THE PORT DERIVE MORE RESOURCES TO CARGO, AND STORAGE, AND WINDMILLS?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTION FOR JIM?
>> JIM, I KNOW YOU'RE PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH THE PORT FINANCES AND SO FORTH.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT TRYING TO FINANCE THESE IMPROVEMENTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, ESPECIALLY FOR THE WEST END.
ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOU HAVE ON HOW THE PORT COULD PURSUE FINANCING AND FUNDING FOR SOME OF THESE PROJECTS AS THEY MOVE FORWARD?
>> THEY HAVE CONSTRAINTS AS TO HOW MUCH THEY CAN ISSUE IN TERMS OF DEBT.
THEY HAVE TO COVER DEBT SERVICE BY 1.25 TIMES.
THEY'RE OVER THAT, BUT AT THIS POINT WITH NET REVENUES.
THEY HAVE SOME CAPACITY THERE.
IN TERMS OF MAYBE PERHAPS PELICAN ISLAND, I TAKE THE PORT COULD PURSUE MORE 3P WHICH ARE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
TO INTRODUCE MORE INDUSTRY OVER THERE AT PELICAN ISLAND, AS WELL AS OVER IN THE WEST END.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, JIM.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL BE RANKING THE CANDIDATES AFTER OUR INTERVIEWS TODAY.
WE'LL MAKE OUR NOMINATIONS ON THE 15TH AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FROM THERE.
THANK YOU FOR WANTING TO BE INVOLVED.
GOOD LUCK AT YOUR REUNION TONIGHT, IS IT?
>> YEAH. WELL, IT STARTS ON SATURDAY.
I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME TODAY.
>> OH. [LAUGHTER] HEY, THERE YOU GO.
[01:40:03]
>> SHOULD I BRING BACK SOME MEMORABILIAS?
>> YEAH, CUP OF COFFEE. [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANKS JIM. I REMEMBER MY 50TH HIGH SCHOOL REUNION.
[BACKGROUND] I'VE HEARD THAT NAME BUT I'M NOT SURE.
>> I THINK HE'S BEEN IN THIS ROOM TOO MUCH.
>> MORNING JIM [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> GOOD. WE'VE SEEN YOU SOMEWHERE, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE [LAUGHTER] THAT WAS.
JIM, AS YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR INTRO.
JUST LET US KNOW ANYTHING YOU WANT US TO KNOW AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
>> SURE. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.
I KNOW ALL OF YOU AND SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
I'VE SERVED ON THE WHARVES BOARD BEFORE IN CAPACITY AS MAYOR.
AT THAT TIME, I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO FOCUS AND FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
THE OTHER PART OF THE JOB JUST TOOK ME AWAY AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME. BUT NOW I HAVE THE TIME.
AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LIST FOR EVERYTHING.
I HAVE A LONG LIST OF THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE PORT AND SEE SOME THINGS DONE.
I WON'T BORE YOU WITH ALL THOSE THIS MORNING. BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
LET ME START BY SAYING, I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE OF A DIVERSIFIED PORT.
WE DON'T NEED TO MORPH INTO TOTAL TOURISM OR TOTAL INDUSTRIAL. WE NEED BOTH.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NATURAL TO HAVE THE TOURISM LIGHT COMMERCIAL ON THE EAST END, TIED INTO DOWNTOWN, TIED IN WITH THE TROLLEY, MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS ON THAT EAST END OF THAT ACTIVITY.
THE COMMERCIAL-HEAVY INDUSTRIAL NEEDS TO GO WEST OF 27TH AND PELICAN ISLAND.
I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT TO BE INVESTING PORT MONEY TOO HEAVILY ON PELICAN ISLAND UNTIL WE GET ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS WE NEED ON THE ISLAND ON THE GALVESTON SIDE.
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, OTHER ACTIVITIES ON PELICAN WOULD BE SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO ENTERTAIN IMMEDIATELY.
SO FIRST OF ALL, I'M FOR DIVERSIFIED PORT, THAT'S ONE ISSUE.
CRUISE SHIP INDUSTRY. IN MY OPINION, OVERALL, THE CRUISE SHIP BUSINESS HAS BEEN GOOD FOR GALVESTON, GOOD FOR THE PORT.
I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING.
WE HAVEN'T FINISHED THE THIRD TERMINAL YET, YET I'M HEARING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT A FOURTH, AND ADDITIONAL TERMINALS.
I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT TO BE JUMPING THAT FAR DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF THE THIRD TERMINAL.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON THE PORT? WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON THE CITY? MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON THE CITIZENS? HOW DOES IT AFFECT OUR PEOPLE? TRAFFIC, PARKING.
THEY PUT A LOT OF CONCRETE DOWN THERE, FOLKS.
THAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR STORM WATER DRAIN AND IT'S GOING RIGHT AT THE HEAD.
THEY'RE GOING TO FILL IT UP. IT'S GOING BACK UP. WHAT'S THE IMPACT? SO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO DO AFTER WE ABSORB AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF TERMINAL 3.
I'VE NEVER BEEN AN ADVOCATE OF BIGGER IS BETTER.
I WANT TO BE THE BEST AT WHATEVER WE DO.
WE NEED TO STRIVE TO BE THE BEST, NOT THE BIGGEST.
TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, THE CRUISE BUSINESS IS A TOURISM EVENT.
HOW MUCH REAL CONVERSATION AND ACTION IS HAPPENING BETWEEN THE PARK BOARD, WHO IS THEORETICALLY OUR TOURISM ARM, AND THE PORT? I DON'T KNOW.
BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE THAN A CUP OF COFFEE EVERY OTHER MONTH WITH THE TWO EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ACTIVE, ONGOING CONVERSATION.
IF THERE IS NO WAY EITHER CAN HELP, PUT IT TO BED AND MOVE ON.
BUT THERE'S HOT TAX, THERE'S OTHER THING THAT I THINK THAT COULD BE OVERLAPPED AND WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD HELP THE TOURISM SIDE, HELP OUR DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS BY TYING THE TWO TOGETHER MORE.
I JUST THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS WE COULD DO TO MAKE THE CRUISE INDUSTRY BETTER, NOT NECESSARILY BIGGER.
ANOTHER AREA THAT, I'M SORRY TO SAY, I WASN'T ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN MY OTHER CAPACITIES HERE, I WANT TO IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PORT.
THAT IS NOT A RECENT PHENOMENON.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS OR 10 YEARS.
[01:45:01]
IT'S A CULTURAL, INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT.I COME TO THE TABLE BELIEVING THAT THE PORT IS A COMPONENT UNIT OF THE CITY.
THE CITY OWNS THE PROPERTY OUT THERE.
ONE EXTREME, SELL THE DAMN PORT.
PUT IT ON THE TAX ROLLS AND TALK ABOUT THE BEST RETURN ON YOUR MONEY, THAT'S IT. PUT THAT ON THE TAX ROLL.
I'M NOT IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS, BUT VALUES, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, PROBABLY WORTH HALF A BILLION, PROBABLY WORTH MORE THAN THAT NOW.
YOU PUT YOUR TAX RATE ON THAT, YOU'LL FIND YOUR HALF A MILLION DOLLARS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR [LAUGHTER].
I THINK THE PORT OUGHT TO STAY IN THE PUBLIC.
BUT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THAT AND WHERE WE ARE IS WHERE WE NEED TO GET.
THERE'S NOT A BUSINESS THAT I KNOW OF, IN 2022, WHO IS OPERATING LIKE WE DID IN 1962.
THE CHARTER HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED AS IT RELATES TO THE PORT AND THE CITY IN 60 YEARS.
I KNOW Y'ALL ARE CONTEMPLATING OTHER CHARTER AMENDMENTS, AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD INTERRUPT THAT.
I'M NOT EVEN SAYING IT'S AT 23, 25.
BUT COLLECTIVELY, PORT, CITY, PUBLIC, WE NEED TO GET THAT DOCUMENT REFLECTIVE OF WHAT WE WANT IN 2022, AND THEN SET OUT TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND GET THAT DONE.
SOME OF THAT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND SOME OF IT WILL JUST BE SEMANTICS.
WITH THE COMBINATION, WE NEED TO BRING IT UP TO SPEED.
SHARE RESOURCES. THE LAST TIME I LOOKED, Y'ALL HAD AN HR DEPARTMENT HERE.
WE GOT AN HR DEPARTMENT OVER THERE.
WE GOT LEGAL DEPARTMENT OVER HERE. WE GOT ONE OVER THERE.
WE HAD A PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT OVER HERE, THEY GOT ONE OVER THERE.
WE ARE DUPLICATING SO MANY THINGS.
I'M JUST SHARING A LITTLE OF THEM.
[LAUGHTER] FORTUNATELY AND UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE MANY SCAR FROM TRYING TO TEAR DOWN THE TURF BATTLES OVER PUBLIC ENTITIES AND PEOPLE.
PEOPLE ARE GIVING UP SOMETHING.
YOU DON'T DO IT BY, IN MY MIND, WHOLESALE CHANGE.
CHANGE IT TO 100 PERCENT RIGHT AWAY.
IT'S LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, INCREMENTAL PROGRESS.
YOU TAKE ONE PIECE AND YOU DO IT, SEE HOW IT WORKS, AND WORK IT OUT.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, AS YOU START TAKING THOSE THINGS DOWN, PEOPLE FEAR LEVEL DROPS, SHARING BECOMES MORE OF A SECOND-NATURE HABIT.
AND THE SAME THING'S OVER AT THE WHARVES BOARD.
THEY DO EVERYTHING OVER THERE YOU'RE DOING HERE IN THE BOARD.
NOT ALL, BUT MANY OF THE CONTRACTS AT THE PORT ARE 30-YEAR DOCUMENTS, LONG-TERM.
IF YOU LOOK UP DEFINITIONS IN THE FINANCE WORLD, IF YOU HAVE A 30 OR 40-YEAR DEAL, YOU BASICALLY SOLD THAT DEAL.
IT'S HARD TO DO, BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO DO IT.
WE GOT TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE THOSE LONG-TERM CONTRACTS MORE FLEXIBLE.
IT'S HARD TO CRYSTAL-BALL 30 YEARS OUT.
IT'S HARD TO CRYSTAL-BALL FIVE YEARS OUT.
BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE CONTRACTS ARE GOOD FOR THE PORT AND GOOD FOR THE CITY, REVENUE SHARE.
WE STARTED THAT WITH TERMINAL 3 AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH ONE AND TWO AS THOSE CONTRACTS MATURE.
I THINK YOU CAN DO A BETTER LOCAL AGREEMENT, BUT CERTAINLY PART OF THE CHARTER IS ENHANCING THE $162,000 A YEAR YOU'VE BEEN GETTING FOR 60 YEARS FROM THE PORT.
IF YOU WERE TO INFLATIONIZE THAT AND MODERNIZE THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER WOULD BE, BUT IT WOULD BE APPROACHING A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
IT'S A HAND-IN-GLOVE PARTNERSHIP.
YOU CAN'T TAKE ALL THE MONEY FROM THE PORT.
THEY HAD CAP THERE, BUT THEY'RE QUITE HONESTLY, PROBABLY IN WORSE SHAPE THAN THE CITY AS FAR AS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED DOWN THERE.
WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES.
YOU DON'T WANT TO APPOINT SEVEN PEOPLE AND GET THEM TO SETTLE DOWN HERE AND IGNORE THEM.
THEY NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE HERE.
YOU'RE THE PEOPLE WHO DEAL THE CARD FOR WHAT THE CITY'S DIRECTION IS.
WE NEED TO JOINTLY COME UP WITH WHATEVER THAT DIRECTION IS AND WORK TOGETHER TO GET IT DONE.
DR. BROWN, I KNOW YOU HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE.
HAVE YOU EVER PUT A JIGSAW PUZZLE TOGETHER? WHAT ARE THE FIRST TWO THINGS YOU DO?
>> YOU FIND THE CORNERS AND THE EDGES.
>> YOU FIND THE CORNERS AND THE EDGES AND YOU LOOK AT THE BOX TOP.
[01:50:03]
[LAUGHTER] WHAT AM I PUTTING TOGETHER HERE? WELL, THE THINGS I'VE TALKED ABOUT ARE THE EDGES.THE COOPERATION, THE PARTNERSHIP, PRIORITIZATION, I'D PUT IN THE CORNERS AND EDGES.
THOSE ARE THE EASY PIECES TO FIND.
THE PART WE'RE MISSING IS THE BOX TOP.
WE LOST IT. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER.
COLLECTIVELY, NOT THE PORT, DON'T SEND IT TO SOME PEOPLE DOWN THERE, AND THEN FIVE YEARS FROM NOW SAY, "I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT.
I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE SEVERAL TERMINALS DOWN THERE." COME ON.
IN THAT WHOLE ENVIRONMENT, WE'RE A SMALL PORT RELATIVELY SPEAKING.
WE CAN'T BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE.
THAT PORT MODEL WAS DEVELOPED WHEN GALVESTON WAS THE BIGGEST PORT IN THE STATE.
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S OUR NATURAL NICHE? WHAT'S GOING TO BE COMPATIBLE, BUT NOT COMPETITIVE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO OUT-COMPETE HOUSTON; POLITICAL, FINANCIAL, THEY GET ALL THE RESOURCES.
HOW DO WE BE COMPATIBLE? WHAT'S OUR NATURAL NICHE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME HERE FOR? LET'S MAKE SURE WE GET INTO THAT BUSINESS, AND MAKE SURE WE BECOME THE BEST IN THAT BUSINESS.
THAT'S GOING TO UPSET THE UPPERCUT.
BECAUSE SOME OF THE BUSINESS WE HAVE HERE HAVE HIDDEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, QUITE HONESTLY NO LONGER FIT.
IF YOU START TALKING ABOUT MAKING A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, ALL EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO KEEP THE STATUS QUO WILL POP UP.
BUT ONCE WE COME OVER TO COLLECT IT WHERE WE WANT TO GO, WE CAN MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LONG-TERM CONTRACTS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO KICK THEM ON THE STREET TOMORROW.
IF WE HAD DONE THIS YEARS AGO, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE THIRD TERMINAL DOWN OUR 10TH STREET, YOU'D HAVE IT UP HERE ON 18TH STREET.
RIGHT NEXT CLOSE TO [INAUDIBLE] THESE RESTAURANT AND HOTELS AND STRIPPER FLEETS, AND THE OTHER TERMINALS.
BUT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO THIS WE GOT ALL THIS OTHER STUFF WE CAN'T MOVE BECAUSE THEY ARE ON LONG-TERM CONTRACT.
THE OTHER THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME AT THE PORT WOULD BE TRANSPARENCY.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER OF GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO OPERATE IN THE SUNSHINE.
WE MAKE BETTER DECISIONS, THE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.
HOW THEY WILL TIGHTEN EXECUTIVE SESSION IN SUPPORT.
I'VE BEEN A PART OF IT, I WALKED OUT BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE LEGAL.
WHATEVER BIT WE HAVE TO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION NEEDS TO BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO WHAT THE LAW ALLOWS UNDER THE THREE EXEMPTIONS IN THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION, OPEN MEETINGS ACT, AND THE REST OF THEM AREN'T BEING WRITE DOWN AND TELL PEOPLE ARE OVERDOING.
[NOISE] WE NEED TO ENHANCE COMMUNICATION WITH OUR PARTNERS, WHICH IS PRIMARILY THE CITY, BUT THE PARK BOARD, AND THEN OUR PRIVATE PARTNERS, OUR CUSTOMERS.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S THE BEST PLACE FOR GROWTH RIGHT THERE.
I GUARANTEE IT 95 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO DO BUSINESS AT THE PORT, THEY'RE DOING BUSINESS AT PORT OF HOUSTON, THEY'RE DOING BUSINESS IN FREE PORT, THEY'RE DOING IT IN CORPUS, THEY'RE DOING LIKE CHARLES.
WE DON'T NEED ALL THEIR BUSINESS, JUST GIVES US A LITTLE MORE.
WE'VE GOT ENOUGH GROWTH COMING FROM WHERE WE ARE.
IF WE ALL DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS, TRUST, UNDERSTANDING, AND I CAN FEEL APPRECIATED, LET THEM KNOW WE WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH THEM, AND SO TRANSPARENCY IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME.
SOMETIMES HISTORY, AN INDICATOR OF WHAT FUTURE IS, BUT KNOCK ON WOOD, I'VE ATTENDED ALL MY PUBLIC CAPACITIES BEFORE, HAD THE ABILITY TO TAKE IDEAS, CONCEPTS, PLANS, AND PUT THEM INTO ACTION.
IT DOESN'T DO US ANY GOOD TO TALK ABOUT IT.
WHEN YOU SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM WE GOT RIGHT HERE AT THIS TABLE, FOLKS.
BUT YOU GOT TO LEAVE THIS ROOM, YOU GOT TO GO PUT IT IN THE STREETS, YOU GOT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I'M CONFIDENT, I COULD HAVE HELPED, WE'VE GOT A GOOD BOARD DOWN THERE.
LOOKING AT THE LIST OF PEOPLE, KNOW MOST OF THEM, YOU GOT TO GET PEOPLE TO BUY IT HERE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE BENCH SEAT FOR EVERYONE ON THERE.
BUT WHEN YOU PUT THEM ON THERE, DON'T JUST PUT THEM ON THERE AND FORGET THEM, MANAGE THEM, THAT'S YOUR JOB.
I'D BE HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT, WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT.
HAVE THE TIME TO DO IT AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND MAKE YOU PROUD AND GET THE JOB DONE.
>> I LOVED THE INTERVIEW JIM BECAUSE YOU'VE ANSWERED ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS.
[01:55:03]
[LAUGHTER] YOU MAKE IT VERY EASY FOR US TO ASK.I'M GOING TO ASK ONE QUESTION, AND I THINK YOU WERE OVER AT THE PORT WHEN THEY START WORKING ON THIS MASTER PLAN.
YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD MASTER PLAN OR DOES THAT NEED TO BE TWEAKED AND CHANGED?
>> I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED.
>> I DEFINITELY THINK, AGAIN, I'M NOT UP TO SPEED ON WHERE THEY ARE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND STUFF.
BUT YOU'RE JUST GOING THROUGH YOUR BUDGET CYCLE.
AND I KNOW YOU ALWAYS STRUGGLING LIKE ALWAYS WITH THE LAST MINUTE, HOW DO YOU MAKE IT ALL FIT? BUT THE ONE THING YOU'VE GOT TO BE PROUD OF, ONE THING, I THINK, WE ALL WOULD ADMIT MICHAEL LOFT AND BRIAN, BRING YOU A BUDGET THAT'S NOT ONLY THIS YEAR, BUT YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S FUNDING FOR THAT.
SAME AT THE PORT, NOTHING HAS A ONE-YEAR SILO.
WE ALL WENT THROUGH COVID AND ALL THE RESTRICTIONS AND ALL THE UPS AND DOWNS THAT THING CREATED.
HOW MANY PHONE CALLS DID YOU GET FROM GALVESTON CONSTITUENCY [NOISE] THAT A CRUISE SHIP HAS BEEN PARKED NOW? YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T GET ONE EXCEPT FOR MAYBE A PARKING LOT ATTENDANT.
BALANCE, I THINK THE MASTER PLAN NEEDS TO BE A BIT.
IT NEEDS TO BE A MORE INTEGRAL PART OF THAT PLANNING.
IF WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, YOU'RE SCRUBBING AND AS YOU KNOW, I'M ALL FOR TRYING TO FIGURE A WAY TO GET MORE FUNDS OUT OF THE PORT OVER HERE.
BUT LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, THERE'S A COST TO THAT.
IF WE GIVE YOU MORE MONEY OVER HERE, THAT'S FINE, THAT'S JUST LESS OVER THERE.
WE JUST NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT THE PORT.
AGAIN, I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO PUT MY CARDS ON TOP OF THE TABLE I DON'T LIKE HIDDEN AGENDAS OR SECRETS.
[INAUDIBLE] ADP SPENT A $150 MILLION IN CORPUS FIVE YEARS AGO.
WHERE'S MOST OF THEIR GRAINS GOING? CORPUS. WE PROBABLY GET THE MINIMUM CONTRACT 2.5 MILLION DOLLARS.
THEY GOT THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF REAL ESTATE IN GALVESTON TIED UP.
IT'S PROBABLY GOT ANOTHER 10 YEARS LEFT.
WE LOVE YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE PLANS. IF YOU WANT TO GET OUT EARLIER LET'S TALK.
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH ALL THAT? IMPLORED THAT FEELING, SLIPS UP.
THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS YOU CAN DO THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT.
SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE HAREBRAINED AND AIN'T GOING TO WORK.
WHEN YOU MOVE DOWN A HAREBRAINED RABBIT TRAIL, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
YOU BACKED UP AND YOU GOT ANOTHER ONE.
WE DO IT, THAT'S JUST WHAT HAPPENED.
>> VERY GOOD. I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCIL HAS QUESTIONS, BUT YOU ANSWERED EVERYTHING.
I MISSED THE RABBIT TRAIL STORIES, I'VE JUST [OVERLAPPING] SO FOCUS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] DONE A GOOD JOB IN THE CITY.
I'VE JUST LOOKED AT THE WINDOW THE PAVEMENT 26TH STREET.
I MIGHT GET RID OF THE ENTIRE RUN TO BARRICADE THAT SAYS DETOUR, [LAUGHTER] 37TH AVENUE AS YOU ALL ARE DOING GOOD WORK AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE WRESTLING WITH ISSUES THAT COUGH CUTS AND ALL THE OTHER THAT COME UP AND JUST SEE AND JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE BIG STUFF Y'ALL ARE KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARK.
>> PRETTY GOOD, WE'LL MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS ON THE 15TH.
>> I KNOW WHERE YOUR HEAD TO RIGHT NOW.
>> WISH I'D SAY TO TEDDY O'ROURKE, BUT THAT WOULD BE INCORRECT.
>> WE'RE NOW ON MR. JOHNNY COOPER, AND BOARD COUNCIL, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO MARY JAN LANTZ NEXT.
SHE HAS TAKEN TIME OFF OF GISD ON A LUNCH HOUR TO COME OVER HERE SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO HER SOON AS WE FINISH MR. COOPER.
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. COOPER. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A REGULAR WHO'S WHO OUT THERE AND I'M JUST A REGULAR GUY COMING IN HERE.
>> REGULAR GUYS ARE APPRECIATED AS MUCH AS THEY SAY SO.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
WE'LL ALLOW YOU A SHORT TIME TO MAKE A PRESENTATION AND INTRO, AND WHATEVER YOU WANT TO INCLUDE IN THAT, THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL FOR QUESTIONS.
>> OKAY. WELL FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE ALL THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB TO DO.
[02:00:04]
I SEE WELL, ALL THE MESSAGES MARIE GETS ON HER SOCIAL PAGE SO COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS THAT THE OTHER, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO.I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 40 YEARS.
MY WIFE AND I WERE HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS.
WE HAVE FIVE BEAUTIFUL GRANDDAUGHTERS WHO COME DOWN TO GALVESTON A LOT.
I HAVE THREE SONS, BUT I HAVE FIVE GRANDDAUGHTERS.
THAT WAS A CHANGE TO GET YOU THROUGH THAT.
WE ACTUALLY HAD OUR HONEYMOON IN GALVESTON IN 1982 AT GALVES AND WE RECENTLY WENT TO RENEW OUR VOWS THERE WITH THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
THEY HAVE AN ANNUAL RULE RENEWING THE VOWS. THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
I HAVE AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN LOGISTICS, TRANSPORTATION, SOME MARITIME.
I WORKED FOR EXXONMOBIL CHEMICAL AND FOR 36 YEARS.
I THINK SOME OF MY BIO SHOWS THAT I WAS ABLE TO DO A WIDE VARIETY OF THINGS.
IF THERE'S ONE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT COMPANY IS THAT, YOU DO WELL IN ONE THING AND THEY WANT TO MOVE YOU TO SOMETHING ELSE TO GET TO A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPERIENCE.
I REALLY ENJOYED MY TIME WORKING WITH LOGISTICS.
PEOPLE LIKE LARGE COMPANIES, SHIPS, JUST AN EXPERIENCE IF YOU HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON A CONTAINER SHIP, BUT IF YOU'VE NEVER HAVE, YOU SHOULD DO THAT. IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE.
ALL THE INS AND OUTS AND JUST TALKING TO THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE AND SPEND HALF THEIR TIME THERE AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY DOING THEIR JOB.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY APPRECIATE THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY AND ALL THE LOGISTICS.
BUT ANYWAY, I'VE INTERFACED A LITTLE BIT WITH THE PORT OF HOUSTON BECAUSE WE'VE EXXONMOBIL CHEMICAL SHIPS A LOT OF RESIN, A LOT OF PLASTIC AROUND THE WORLD.
I DID MOST OF THE CONTRACTS WE HAVE WITH THE SHIPPING COMPANIES.
I'VE WORKED WITH THE LEGAL FOLKS WITH THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY, TRIED TO ESTABLISH ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAPPEN, THE MERGED ATTENTION, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
I REALLY WANT TO GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
A LITTLE BIT EARLY RETIREMENT.
BUT WE SAY WHEN YOU KNOW, YOU'RE READY TO GO, YOU'RE READY TO GO, SO I WAS READY TO GO.
BUT I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO HERE.
[NOISE] I HAVE VOLUNTEERED QUITE A BIT WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY, WITH LIONS CLUBS, AND DOING WHAT WE CAN TO INTERFACE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE.
BUT I'M AT THE POINT WHERE, I MISS THE BUSINESS WORLD A LITTLE BIT.
I'M ANXIOUS TO GET BACK OUT THERE AND OFFER WHAT I CAN, WHICH IS MOSTLY MY EXPERTISE, AND GO THROUGH AND SEE WHAT THE WHARVES BOARD I'VE READ LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AND SEEMED LIKE MAYBE A GOOD FIT FOR ME.
I CAME HERE TO INTERVIEW FOR THE POSITION.
>> I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LET'S OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL FOR QUESTIONS.
>> NOT THE PORT. IS THERE ANY BIGGEST ISSUE YOU MIGHT SEE THAT YOU COULD ADDRESS IF YOU'RE ON THE WHARVES BOARD, IDEAS YOU'D HAVE TO ADDRESS?
>> YEAH. I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WHICH IS JUST INGRAINED IN ME, IT'S SAFETY.
MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S DONE IN A SAFE MANNER.
I HAVEN'T SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE PORT GALVESTON IN TERMS OF SEEING ANYTHING THAT'S UNSAFE.
BUT I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE INGRAINED IN EVERYBODY.
I THINK FROM LOOKING AT SOME OF YOUR AGENDAS AND TOPICS, A LOT OF THAT STUFF WAS THERE.
BASICALLY, FOLLOWING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
I THINK PEOPLE SAY I'M A GOOD LISTENER.
SO I'LL LISTEN TO WHAT'S GOING ON AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS BEING FOLLOWED UP TO SNUFF.
BUT I KNOW THAT'S A CROWDED AREA.
YOU ONLY HAVE LIMITED SPACE FOR IT.
I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT WHERE TO PUT THE BATTLESHIP, THERE'S ROOM FOR THAT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE FEW THINGS YOU HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES IN THERE, WHICH IS PROBABLY GOOD.
BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE ALL THE SAME THING THEN IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO TRY TO MANAGE.
NOT SURE IF I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. COOPER? MIKE.
>> HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY EXPERIENCES WITH THE PORT OF GALVESTON?
>> EXCEPT FOR GOING DOWN THERE FOR DINNER AT KATIE'S, OR BEVERAGES.
EVERY TIME ONE OF THOSE SHIPS, SAILBOATS COMES IN AND I JUST THINK IT'S A GREAT THING TO GO DOWN THERE AND WATCH THE NAVY SHIP THAT CAME IN THERE.
THAT WAS QUITE A FUN EXPERIENCE TO DO SO.
ANYTIME SOMETHING LIKE THAT COMES OUT, I DO THAT.
MY GRANDKIDS ALWAYS KIDDING ME BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE DRIVING DOWN THE SEAWALL, SEE ALL THOSE SHIPS LINED ABOUT THERE.
THAT'S A TANKER SHIP, THAT'S A CONTAINER SHIP,
[02:05:01]
LIKE I'M CRAZY BECAUSE I'M TALKING, THINGS LIKE THAT.BUT IT'S JUST INGRAINED IN ME.
I JUST LIKE TO TALK STAFF LIKE THAT.
>> OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. YES, DAVID.
>> YEAH. JOHN, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THEM PORT AND THE CITY BETTER INTEGRATED AS BUSINESS PARTNERS?
>> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE ENJOY GOING DOWN THERE FOR CHORES THINGS WHICH CRUISE IS.
AND SO TO SOME EXTENT, MAYBE TRY TO MAKE THAT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR FOLKS.
I JUST THINK TRYING TO BUILD UP MORE TOURISTY THINGS DOWN THERE WOULD BE GOOD.
I DON'T KNOW, ALSO ABOUT DIFFERENT KINDS OF BUSINESSES THAT COME IN THERE.
I MEAN, MOST OF THE BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN THERE PRE ESTABLISHED OVER TIME.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S EVEN ROOM FOR ADDING ONTO THAT BESIDES THE CRUISE TERMINAL.
BUT I MEAN, IT'S JUST A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO DOWN THERE AND ENJOY IT AND MAYBE GET SOME MORE HISTORICAL.
BASICALLY, GALVESTON HAS A BIG HISTORY OF SNOW PACKS IN THE 1800S AS YOU GUYS KNOW, AND THEN WE TRY TO PROMOTE THAT MUCH AS WE CAN.
BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT THE HISTORY OF GALVESTON AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY'RE NOT EVEN LOOKING SPENDING OR DEED RESTRICTIONS.
IT SAYS, IF I FIND JOHN FITTE'S TREASURE IN MY YARD, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE HALF OF IT TO THE [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
BUT I ENJOY READING ALL THE DIFFERENT HISTORIES, BOOKS ABOUT THE HURRICANES AND THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE HISTORY OF GALVESTON.
>> OH, HE DID? JOHN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE WILL FINISH OUR INTERVIEWS.
COUNCIL WILL BE RANKING THE CANDIDATES.
WE WILL BE MAKING OUR APPOINTMENTS ON SEPTEMBER 15TH BASED ON THE RANKINGS.
THE NOMINATIONS WILL COME OUT THAT WAY.
JUST, WE SAY THIS TO CANDIDATES.
FOR SOME REASON YOU MAY, OR IF YOU DON'T GET A POINT TO THE WHARVES BOARD, SOMEONE WITH YOUR DESIRE AND PASSION WILL LOVE TO HAVE YOU SERVE IN OTHER AREAS TOO.
GIVE THAT SOME THOUGHT, WE'LL BE MAKING OTHER APPOINTMENTS ON THE 15TH ALSO.
>> WHEN I LOOKED AT THE WHOLE LIST OF WHICH ONE FITS ME THE MOST.
I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST BOARDS AND THE MOST PROMINENT ONES AROUND.
SO YES, CERTAINLY, I'M OPEN TO OTHER AVENUES AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT MIGHT COME UP IN ANOTHER COMMISSIONS.
>> ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW FACES AROUND.
>> COUNCIL, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THERE ARE ONE REAPPOINTMENT AND ONE VACANCY.
BOB BROWN HAS ELECTED NOT TO REAPPLY FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
I COMMUNICATED WITH BOB YESTERDAY, SO WE HAVE ONE VACANCY AND WE HAVE MARY JAN. IS SHE THERE? YES. WE'RE GOING OUT OF ORDER.
THIS YOUNG LADY HAS A, EXCUSE ME.
[OVERLAPPING] MARY JAN HAS TAKEN TIME OFF FROM GISD TO COME UP HERE AND IS ON A TIME CONSTRAINT HERE.
MARY JAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR WEARING THE NAME TAG [LAUGHTER].
HE'S A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW, SO [LAUGHTER] I'M TRYING TO MAKE YOU LAUGH AS MUCH [LAUGHTER] BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD BE IN WITH YOU [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION AND WANTING TO SERVE.
WE HAVE ONE OPEN SPOT ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND ONE REAPPOINTMENT.
COUNCIL CAN CHOOSE A DIFFERENT PERSON FOR THAT REAPPOINTMENT, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU WANTING TO SERVE.
WE'LL GIVE YOU A TIME FOR A SHORT INTRODUCTION.
WE'LL OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS FROM THERE. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> WELL, AS YOU KNOW. MY NAME IS MARY JAN LANTZ.
RIGHT NOW I SERVE AS THE HR DIRECTOR AND RISK MANAGER FOR GALVESTON COLLEGE.
I'VE BEEN ON THE ISLAND, SAY WE MOVED BACK IN 2001.
I LIVED ON THE WEST END FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS.
WE RECENTLY MOVED TO AVENUE R, SO I KNOW THE DIVERSITY OF THE ISLAND FROM THE WEST END LIVING TO LIVING IN TOWN AND ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT GO ALONG WITH IT.
WHEN I LIVED ON THE WEST END, I'VE SERVED AS THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT FOR BERMUDA BEACH IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE AS MARIE KNOWS BECAUSE SHE WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE FOR A WHILE AS WELL.
WE WORKED HARD ON THE WEST END FOR RE-NOURISHMENT.
[02:10:01]
OUR COMMUNITY COASTAL EROSION PROTECTION GRANT THAT WE WROTE AND IT WAS FUNDED AND THEN THE FUNDING WAS PULLED WHEN EVERYTHING HAPPENED AFTER HURRICANE IKE, WHICH WAS DEVASTATING FOR US.I KNOW THE WEST END ISSUES, NOW LIVING ON AVENUE R, I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ISSUES IN TOWN AS WELL WITH OUR DRAINAGE AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD [LAUGHTER].
I'M A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE COLLEGE.
I ENJOY WALKING TO WORK EVERY DAY AND SEEING MY COMMUNITY.
I WENT TO CLEAR CREEK HIGH SCHOOL AND TAKE SURFING ON BERMUDA BEACH EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL, SO I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AND THAT'S ME.
I'VE GOT THREE GRANDCHILDREN AND A FEW GRANDCHILDREN THAT LIVE HERE ALSO ON THE ISLAND, SO I'VE GOT INVESTED INTERESTS IN THIS ISLAND FROM A FAMILY MEMBER, A GRANDMOTHER, A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WORKS WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I ALSO WORKED FOR THE CITY OF TEXAS CITY FOR THREE YEARS BEFORE I GOT MY POSITION WITH GALVESTON COLLEGE.
I WANTED TO COME BACK AND SERVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I KNOW ABOUT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS THE HR DIRECTOR AND RISK MANAGER FOR THAT COMMUNITY.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO SERVE ON PLANNING COMMISSION AND ARE THERE ANY TOPICS THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD OVERSEE?
>> NO. THERE'S NOT ANY TOPICS.
ANYTIME GALVESTON COLLEGE WOULD HAVE ANYTHING COME, I KNOW WHEN I'D RECUSE MYSELF, SO I KNOW THAT WELL ENOUGH.
NO SPECIFIC TOPICS THAT ARE COMING BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SO NO.
THE REASON I WANT TO SERVE IS TO CONTINUE TO WATCH THIS ISLAND GROW AND DEVELOP.
I'VE SEEN SO MUCH SINCE AFTER HURRICANE IKE.
IT'S BEEN GREAT AND I'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF THE CONTINUED SUCCESS.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBERS?
>> RIGHT ONE IN HERE A LOADED QUESTION.
WHAT'S YOUR FEEL ABOUT THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL INDUSTRY IN GALVESTON? BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COME BEFORE PLANNING ALL THE TIME AS A RESIGNED TO OUR ZERO AND THAT LIMITS THE EXPANSION OF THOSE REASONS.
>> I KNOW WHEN I WORKED ON THE BERMUDA BEACH IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE, WE WERE DEFERRED TO THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN FOR THE CITY.
[NOISE] SINCE I'M IN EDUCATION, AFTER LITTLE HOMEWORK AND READ THROUGH THE CONCRETE ALL UP 219 PAGES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLANNING I KNOW ANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WOULD COME, I THINK.
SINCE I HAVEN'T SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I WOULD HAVE TO SUPPORT THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN IN THAT DECISION FROM MY BRIEF KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE COMMISSION DOES.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I DON'T REALLY HAVE AN OPINION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
WE HAVE A SHORT TERM RENTAL THAT WAS JUST PUT IN ACROSS THE STREET FROM US AND SO FAR, IT HASN'T COST A PROBLEM [NOISE] TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT I HAVE HEARD OTHER COMMENTS ON OTHER SITES THAT THINGS DON'T GO SO WELL FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO I GUESS THOSE DECISIONS WOULD HAVE TO SUPPORT WHAT'S BEEN DECIDED FOR THIS ISLAND.
>> ONE OF THE THING [NOISE] EXCUSE ME, WHEN SERVING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES, THERE'S WORKSHOPS PRIOR TO THE MEETINGS.
MEETINGS, THE WORKSHOP MAYBE AN HOUR OR AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF AND THE MEETING MAYBE AN HOUR TO HOWEVER LONG THE MEETING MAY GO.
WILL THAT INTERFERE WITH YOUR WORK SCHEDULE?
>> NO AND I DID DISCUSS THAT WITH THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT, DR. SHELTON ABOUT BECAUSE I'VE GOT A LOT OF PTO IF HE WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME AND HE SAID NOT AT ALL, HE SUPPORTED IT.
IF I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE CHOSEN, HE SUPPORTED MY LEAVE FORM.
THAT'S PART OF OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IF I JUST CONTINUED TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AT THE COLLEGE, SO IT ME RIGHT IN THERE.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, HAVING WORKED WITH YOU IN THE PAST ON THE BERMUDA BEACH BOARD IS YOU'RE VERY PROACTIVE IN TAKING ON CHALLENGES AND COMING UP WITH GREAT SOLUTIONS.
>> AS TITLE IX COORDINATOR AT THE COLLEGE, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? MARY JAN, THANK YOU.
WHAT WE'LL DO, COUNCIL WILL KNOW ONCE WE FINISH OUR INTERVIEWS TODAY, THERE'LL BE RANKING THE CANDIDATES.
ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, WE'LL THEN BE NOMINATING THE CANDIDATES AND CHOOSING FROM THAT RANK.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU APPLY AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY HAVE YOU SERVE IN SOME CAPACITY WITH THE CITY.
>> I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL, CAN I ASK ONE OTHER QUESTION? WHAT DOES THE TERM OF THE ASSIGNMENT FOR THE COMMISSION?
[02:15:01]
>> THREE, TWO-YEAR TERMS. FOR EVERY TWO YEARS, IF YOU'RE APPOINTED, YOU'LL COME UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AND THEN YOU CAN SERVE FOR A TOTAL SIX YEARS IF YOU'RE REAPPOINTED.
>> THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I'M GOING TO WRITE IN THE MIDDLE [NOISE]
>> HEY, THIS IS MIKE BOUVIER [OVERLAPPING] I RECEIVED A CALL FROM YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> EXCUSE ME. [OVERLAPPING] I'M SO SORRY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> OH GOD [OVERLAPPING] WE ALL LEARNED [OVERLAPPING] A LOT OF STUFF.
>> IT'S TOO BAD, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE OPENINGS THAN WE DO.
>> HAVE A SEAT. WE HAVE SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBER GO TO [OVERLAPPING] TAKING A BATHROOM BREAK. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
>> MIKE BOUVIER, B O U V I E R, ADDRESSES 1721 BY U SHORT DRIVE.
THAT'LL BE MY NEW WIFE'S NAMED KAT BOUVIER.
>> WE'VE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR TWO HOURS DOING THIS AND THEN WE GET A BREAK, HEY PICK IT.
I WAS LOOKING UP THE WATCH IN THE THE TV SCREEN, I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 10:00 AND I'M LIKE, MAN, THEY DO THAT VOLUNTEER.
>> YEAH. TRUST ME. [LAUGHTER] WE ASKED HER WELL.
>> YOU APPLIED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION?
>> YEAH. I DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO.
>> IT GETS ITS OWN SET OF JOY.
>> YES. I'M JUST RETURNING THE CALL.
>> WE'LL START HERE IN JUST A SECOND.
I GOT ACCEPTED INTO GAUS UNIVERSITY.
>> YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY ATTENDING THAT, ARE YOU?
>> YEAH. I THINK I'M GOING TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> EXCUSE ME, BECAUSE HE HAD NO SAFETY CITIES TOO. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S RIGHT. [LAUGHTER] I DIDN'T HAVE A FALL BACK.
I PUT ALL MY EGGS IN THAT ONE.
>> THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, I'M GIVING A PRESENTATION TO THEM IN THE EVENING, BRIAN AND I ARE.
REALLY, SOMETHING ELSE ON WEDNESDAY.
GOOD JOB. [LAUGHTER] HOW ARE YOU DOING BUD?
>> THIS IS GOOD BECAUSE PRE COVID, I SIGNED UP TOO LATE.
THEN COVID HAPPENED AND THEY JUST START IT BACK UP.
THERE WE GO. YOU CAN NEVER STOP LEARNING.
>> I HEARD THE BOARDS ARE NEEDED, PEOPLE ARE NEEDED.
I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1978, WAS WHEN WE BUILT OUR FURNITURE HOUSE.
[NOISE] LIVED HERE FULL-TIME SINCE '81 OR 1980 WHEN THE WHOLE BUSINESS WENT BURS AND DECIDED I HAVE EXTRA TIME I CAN HELP OUT WHERE I'M NEEDED AND SO I APPLIED.
[02:20:06]
>> GLAD TO HAVE YOU. QUESTIONS COUNCIL FOR MISTER, IS YOUR LAST NAME, WRIGHT?
>> WRIGHT BROWN. IT'S A HYPHENATED LAST NAME, SIR.
ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? GO AHEAD.
>> ARE THERE ANY ISSUES THAT YOU WANT TO SEE DISCUSSED AT PLANNING COMMISSION OR DO YOU HAVE ANY TOPICS THAT YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON IF YOU WERE SERVING ON THIS BOARD?
>> NO. ESSENTIALLY, I WANT TO SAY I TAKE PLANNING COMMISSION BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY DO ONE.
I AM A CONTRACTOR BY TRAINING.
I'LL TAKE CARE OF PRIVATE HOMES ON THE WEST END ISLAND, SO PLANNING, I WAS, I'M SURE SINCE YOU CAN ONLY TAKE ONE, BUT NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY TYPE OF ISSUES OR AGENDAS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> HE DEALT ACTUALLY WITH THAT QUESTION.
>> MARIE, YOU HAD YOUR QUESTION?
>> WAS THERE ANYTHING IN OUR LDR OR ZONING FOR GALVES IN THAT YOU MIGHT THINK COULD BE CHANGED TO BENEFIT GALVESTON AS MORE DIRECTLY?
>> THE ONLY ISSUE I'VE REALLY SEEN IS THE USE OF OSB, WHICH IS CALLED ORIENTED STRAND BOARD, WHICH TO ME IS CORNFLAKE BOARD.
IT'S SHAVINGS OF LUMBER GLUED TOGETHER AND PUT UNDER PRESSURE.
IT'S LIKE YOU'LL LOOK AT A HOUSE AND YOU GO, OKAY, THAT'S COLD AND IT'S 5/8 OSB OR GREATER.
BUT OSB, ONCE IT GETS WET IN A CORNER, THE WHOLE SHEET FALLS APART.
THAT'S THE ONE THING I DO AS A MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR, IS I LET OTHER PEOPLE BUILD THEM, AND I TAKE CARE OF THEM.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR 30 YEARS.
I HAVE HAD SOME OF MY CUSTOMERS FOR 30 YEARS.
HOW CAN I MAKE IT TO WHERE I DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK? HOW CAN I MAKE IT SO THEY'RE NOT IN THREE MONTHS GOING, WELL, YOU JUST DID THIS, WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS ALREADY? I EVEN NOW ONLY CARRY STAINLESS STEEL FASTENERS IN MY TRAILER.
I USED TO CARRY GALVANIZED, WENT INTO A HOUSE FOR ONE OF MY CUSTOMERS THAT HE WANTED TO PURCHASE, WALKED THROUGH THE ATTIC, AND THEY USED BRIGHT STEEL FASTENERS AND THEY'RE AFTER US, AND I'M, LET HIM GALVANIZE.
FIRST WINDSTORM, IT'S GONE, FORGET IT.
YOU DON'T WANT THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE ISLAND AND SHORT-TERM RENTALS? [NOISE]
>> TO ME, A SHORT-TERM RENTAL IS SOMEONE THAT BUYS A HOME BUT CAN'T AFFORD IT.
I HAVE WORKED FOR PEOPLE WORTH $1.5 BILLION.
THEY HAVE THREE HOMES IN THE WEST END AND NONE OF THEIR HOMES ARE ON RENTAL MARKET.
I'VE SEEN THEIR NEIGHBORS BUY A HOUSE THAT'S 1.2 MILLION, AND THEY HAVE TO PUT IT ON THE RENTAL MARKET.
I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE PUT THEM ON THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL MARKET BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN AFFORD THEM.
THEY DON'T DO BECAUSE I'VE GOT MONEY AND I'M JUST GOING TO RENT IT.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT TO DO, THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT TO DO.
PUT IT ON SHORT-TERM DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOP DOWN, I DON'T CARE.
DON'T DEVELOP WETLAND, IN MARSH AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT IF THERE'S LAND THAT'S TO BE DEVELOPED, DEVELOP IT.
I THINK PIRATES BEACH WAS DEVELOPED TOO FAR FORWARD.
IT WAS DEVELOPED MANY YEARS AGO, AND IT'S ONE OR TWO LOTS TOO FAR FORWARD.
MY CUSTOMERS ARE BEACHFRONT, AND THEY OWN PROPERTY THAT'S NOW IN THE WATER.
I USED TO WORK FOR A HOUSE AND I TORE IT DOWN AFTER IKE.
I TELL THESE PEOPLE THEY MOVE TO KIMCHI CO FROM PIRATES BEACH.
I TELL THEM EVERY DAY THEY SHOULD BE OPENING A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE AND TOAST IT.
BUT THAT'S ONLY I FORESEE IS FOR DEVELOPMENT AS THE WATERFRONT IS IT SHOULD BE BACK FARTHER.
THERE SHOULD BE A BIGGER BUFFER.
AGAIN, SHORT-TERM RENTALS, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT TO DO, THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT TO DO.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T REALLY AFFORD THEIR HOMES.
>> ANDREW, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ONE OF THE REASONS WE INTERVIEW, WE INTERVIEW FOR THREE OF ALL THE COMMITTEES OF BOARDS.
THERE'S ONLY THREE WE INTERVIEWED FOR AND THE REASON WE DO, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BOARD THAT IS VERY BUSY BOARD.
YOU'LL HAVE SPECIAL MEETINGS IF YOU GET INTO THE COMP PLAN COMING UP HERE, THERE'LL BE MEETINGS CONSTANTLY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AND THROUGHOUT THE MONTH.
DOES YOUR SCHEDULE PERMIT THAT?
>> I'M A SELF-EMPLOYED CONTRACTOR.
[02:25:01]
I CAN WORK WHEN I WANT.I CAN DO WHAT I WANT WHEN I WANT.
>> SO MY SCHEDULE IS WIDE OPEN.
I JUST TELL MY GUYS, IT'S LIKE YEAH OKAY, I'VE GOT AN APPOINTMENT AT 10:00, I'LL SEE YOU WHENEVER.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR WANTING TO SERVE.
>> WHAT WE'LL DO, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IT ON THE MONITOR OUT THERE, WE'RE GOING TO RANK THE CANDIDATES AND WE'LL MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS ON SEPTEMBER 15TH.
>> HOPEFULLY IF YOU ARE APPOINTED, GREAT, IF YOU'RE NOT, THEN HOPEFULLY YOU WILL BE WANTING TO SERVE ON OTHER COMMITTEES OF BOARDS, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU.
>> LIKE YOU SAID ON THE APPLICATION, YOU CAN ONLY TAKE ONE.
>> I'M LIKE, I'M A CONTRACTOR, I'LL TAKE THAT ONE.
BUT IF I DON'T GET IT, THEN I DON'T GET IT I'LL GLADLY DO SOMETHING ELSE.
>> JOHN HAS IN A WAY SAID HERE BOB BROWN DID NOT WANT TO SERVE ANYMORE.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY HE DIDN'T WANT TO SERVE.
>> I CAN TELL YOU WHY. HIS WIFE SAID THAT AIRSTREAM TRAILER WE SPEND SO MUCH MONEY RESTORING IS SITTING IN A GARAGE, UNUSED, UNTOUCHED.
>> VERY GOOD REASON [OVERLAPPING].
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
WE DID RUNNING A LITTLE BEHIND TODAY.
LET YOU DO A BRIEF INTRO STATEMENT THAT'LL PUT EVERY OF LIFE FOR THE COUNCIL TO KNOW AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS.
>> I DIDN'T PREPARE. I'VE A SHORT INTRODUCTORY. GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF IN CONSIDERATION FOR PLANNING COMMISSION.
I LIVE AT 2209 AVENUE O, DISTRICT 2 [NOISE].
I GREW UP IN THE SUBURBS OF DETROIT.
THE SECOND OF 11 CHILDREN, NINE GIRLS, AND TWO BOYS.
[LAUGHTER] AFTER HIGH SCHOOL I RECEIVED AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY FROM MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY.
FOLLOWED BY A JOB AS A LAND SURVEYOR IN SOUTHEASTERN OHIO, PRIOR TO MOVING TO HOUSTON IN 1976 [NOISE].
I WAS HIRED BY HL&P, NOW CENTERPOINT ENERGY, WHERE I WORKED FOR 37 YEARS BEFORE RETIRING HERE TO GALVESTON.
I GOT HERE AS SOON AS I COULD.
WHILE AT HL&P, I ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND RECEIVED A BS DEGREE IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT [NOISE].
EXCUSE ME. WHILE AT HL&P, I HAD TWO PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT ALSO WHICH I THINK IT'D BE VALUABLE EXPERIENCE TO ASSIST IN FULFILLING THE PLANNING COMMITTEE'S ROLES.
FIRST, I SUPERVISED THE STAFF THAT WORK WITH ALL THE ROAD AGENCIES IN HL&P'S FOOTPRINT.
THAT WAS PRIMARILY TEXTILE BUT ALSO NINE COUNTIES AND ALL MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDING GALVESTON.
[NOISE] OUR JOB WAS TO REVIEW THE PROJECT PLANS, IDENTIFY HL&P'S COALS TOWERS AND OTHER FACILITIES IN CONFLICT WITH THOSE PROJECTS AND NEGOTIATE HOW CONFLICTING HL&P FACILITIES CAN EITHER BE RELOCATED OR REMAIN IN PLACE.
THIS WORK INVOLVES WORKING, OF COURSE, WITH CONTRACTORS OF CITIES, OF COUNTIES, OF THE STATES TO REVIEW THOSE PROJECTS, REDESIGN WORK, AND COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES AND SCHEDULE.
OFTENTIMES THIS WORK INVOLVED REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACTS OR AND LAND TRANSACTIONS WITH THE VARIOUS ENTITIES.
[NOISE] AS A SECONDARY FUNCTION, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RUNNING SPACE ON HL&P POLES MOST OF THE TIME LOCATED IN PUBLIC ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY WITH TELEPHONE AND CABLE TV COMPANIES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR A POSITION ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
[02:30:01]
>> THANK YOU, JOHN, VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTIONS FOR JOHN.
>> EDUCATION AS CIVIL ENGINEER, IS THAT RIGHT OR?
>> TECHNICIAN. THEN YOU WENT TO WORK FOR A SURVEYING COMPANY.
>> DOING SURVEYS AND THEN HL&P CENTERPOINT?
>> GREAT. MY FATHER WORKS FOR THE HL&P, SO I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE COMPANY.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AT ALL?
>> ONLY WHEN I'VE RESEARCHED, I KNOW.
I THINK SOMETHING WAS PASSED IN 2015.
>> CORRECT. THE LAST REVISION AND ALL REGULATIONS.
>> YOU DEFINITELY HAVE A BACKGROUND THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT PLANNING COMMISSION DOES, BUT WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION? WELL, I'M INTERESTED IN, I GUESS, KEEPING STANDARDS.
EVERYBODY HAS TO FOLLOW THE STANDARDS SO THAT THE CITY, COUNTY, OR STATE AT ANY LEVEL CAN WORK PROPERLY.
[NOISE] YOU HAVE THE REGULATIONS AND PEOPLE FOLLOW THEM OR THEY REQUEST EXEMPTIONS FOR A MOMENT, SOME PEOPLE JUST TRY TO IGNORE THEM COMPLETELY, SO WE NEED SOMEBODY TO OVERSEE THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RULES THAT WERE AGREED TO BY MOST PEOPLE, I GUESS, ARE FOLLOWED AND MAINTAINED.
>> WHAT'S YOUR STAND ON DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE ISLAND? I MEAN, DO YOU SEE THE NEED FOR MORE? DO YOU THINK THERE IS ENOUGH? JUST GIVE ME YOUR GENERAL IDEA [OVERLAPPING].
>> I THINK THERE IS ROOM FOR GROWTH, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'D BE WILD GROWTH.
I PREFER TO SEE THINGS REDEVELOPED AS OPPOSED TO CROUCHING ON WETLANDS AND OTHER AREAS.
NOT A WHOLE LOT OF LAND LEFT ON THE ISLAND THAT I SEE FOR DEVELOPMENT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBERS? VERY GOOD. JOB, I'M THINKING YOU HAVE TIME TO SERVE.
YOU'RE RETIRED. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, JOB.
>> YOU MIGHT HAVE MENTIONED, BUT WHAT PART OF THE ISLAND DO YOU LIVE ON?
>> TO JUST BRING OVER WILLIAMS SISTERS DISTRICT, RIGHT.
>> I HEARD YOU LIVE SOMEWHERE NEAR THERE.
>> EXCUSE ME. HE LIVES RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FOR YOU.
>> DO YOU JOHN? I DIDN'T NOT KNOW THAT.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT ACROSS. DO WE BACKUP? NO, YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE, SOUTHSIDE.
>> I GOT THOSE APARTMENTS RIGHT ACROSS.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME.
>> I WALKED BY YOUR HOUSE THERE EVERY MORNING WHEN I WALK, SO VERY GOOD.
WHAT WE'LL DO, WE'LL RANK THE CANDIDATES, WE'LL MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS ON SEPTEMBER 15TH.
IF FOR SOME REASON YOU'RE NOT APPOINTED, I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU STILL HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE CITY AND SERVING ON ANOTHER COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> SO WELL, I GUESS IT WILL BE POSTED IN THE PAPERS OR SOMETHING?
>>YES. WE WILL NOTIFY YOU BECAUSE OUR CITY SECRETARY, JANELLE, SHE'LL NOTIFY THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE SELECTED AND THE ONES THAT ARE NOT, SHE'LL NOTIFY THOSE.
>> THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY.
DID THAT WORK? WE TURNED INTO A PROFESSIONAL INTERVIEW GROUP HERE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY [OVERLAPPING].
[02:35:01]
>> FOR EVERYONE'S EDIFICATION, I JUST ASKED HIM IF IT'S INTRIGUING CHOOSE ONE OR TWO.
>> VERY NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE AND THANK YOU FOR WANTING TO SERVE THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS, LET YOU MAKE A SHORT INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> WELL, I'VE BEEN HERE IN GALVESTON FROM HOUSTON, IT'S HARD TO BREAK THAT, FOR 21 YEARS.
WE'VE GOTTEN PROPERTY HERE SINCE THAT TIME.
MY BACKGROUND BRIEFLY IS, WE USED TO COME TO GALVESTON AS A KID AND BOLIVAR AND THE CITY HAS CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY IN THOSE MANY YEARS.
MY BACKGROUND IS THAT I WAS A CPA AND WENT TO WORK FOR ONE OF THE BIG EIGHT ACCOUNTING FIRM AT THE TIME.
I THINK IT'S DOWN TO FOUR OR LESS.
THEN WENT BACK TO LAW SCHOOL AT NIGHT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND WENT TO WORK FOR A LAW FIRM DOING BUSINESS LITIGATION AND DID THAT FOR THE NEXT 30 PLUS YEARS.
I THINK ALL OF THAT PROBABLY BRINGS PLANNING TO THE TABLE.
EACH ONE OF THOSE JOBS REQUIRES DOING A LOT OF FOLLOWING REGULATIONS, RULES, LAWS AND EXECUTING A PLAN FOR LITIGATION.
YOU MAY FIND IT STRANGE HOW THAT MIGHT FIT INTO THE CITY PLANNING JOB, BUT MOST OF THE CASES I HEADED LASTED FROM 3-5 YEARS.
THAT ALL TAKES A LOT OF PLANNING AND EXECUTION ALONG THE WAY, YOU CAN DO SOME JUMP INTO IT.
I APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION BECAUSE I LOVE TO CITY.
AS I'VE SAID, I'VE SEEN IT JUST CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY, EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND ALL FOR THE BETTER.
I THINK THERE IS A LOT TO BE DONE JUST FROM MY OWN OBSERVATION AS A CITIZEN AND I'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF THAT. THAT'S MY BACKGROUND.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBERS? YES, TAKE HIM THROUGH.
HE'S NOT PART OF YOUR NEIGHBORS BY THE WAY [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER].
>> WHAT IS YOUR WHAT IS YOUR FEEL ABOUT THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF SHORT TERM RENTALS IN THAT INDUSTRY?
>> WELL, IT AFFECTS ME PERSONALLY BECAUSE WE'VE LIVED IN THE MIDDLE OF A LOT OF THE EXPANSION IN THE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.
I'VE NOTICED A CHANGE IN JUST THE TOURISTS.
THESE LOT OF FAMILIES THAT ARE AROUND US, THEY'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE BEACH.
I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME REGULATION ON THAT IMPERSONALLY.
IT NEEDS TO BE CONTROLLED WITHIN, SO THAT IT BENEFITS TOURISM HERE, BUT YET RESPECTS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.
WE'VE BEEN LUCKY PERSONALLY TO HAVE NO BIG INCIDENCE OF PARTY HOUSES SURROUND US OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT I KNOW SOME PEOPLE CAN'T SAY THE SAME THING.
SO I THINK EXPANSION, IT MAY BE WHERE IT IS.
I HAVE HEARD THAT GALVESTON HAS A VERY HIGH NUMBER OF SHORT TERM RENTALS COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES.
THAT TO ME, WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF CONTROL, A LOT OF OVERSIGHT, SO THAT IT DOESN'T GET OUT OF HAND AND STILL KEEPS THE SEA LEVEL, BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE I WOULD BE ON THAT.
>> WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE ISLAND? [NOISE]
>> OF THE WHOLE ISLAND. [NOISE]
>> SO I THINK FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, I WOULD SAY THE ISLAND HAS SOME WAYS TO GO TO BRINGING JOBS ONTO THE ISLAND.
I'M RETIRED. I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A JOB, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THERE NOT A LOT OF GOOD PAYING JOBS ON THE ISLAND AND A LOT OF THE JOBS THAT ARE ON THE ISLAND THERE ARE WELL PAID.
THEN THEY DON'T HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SO THEY LAID THE ISLAND.
I THINK THAT ONE SHOULD BE ONE OF THE MAIN OBJECTIVES.
IT'S TO MAKE THIS MORE ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE,
[02:40:06]
SO THAT WE HAVE THE MIDDLE CLASS JOBS AND HOUSING AND THE SCHOOLS THAT KEEP PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND AS WELL.AS FAR AS THE OTHER LONG TERM, I JUST THINK WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH OUR BEACHES ARE BEAUTIFUL.
I THINK THAT SHOULD CONTINUE THE REPLENISHMENT. THEY'RE JUST WONDERFUL.
IF WE COULD JUST MAKE THE WATER A LITTLE BLUER, BUT THEN OUR PROPERTY WOULD BE TOO HIGH.
[LAUGHTER] THEN I THINK THE OTHER PART THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME IS THE HISTORICAL ASPECT OF OUR ISLAND.
OF COURSE, TODAY'S IMPORTANT DAY FOR THE ISLAND 19 OR STORM.
I THINK PRESERVING THAT HISTORY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF ARCHITECTURE FROM THAT PERIOD.
YOU WILL KNOW WHY I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
FOR EXAMPLE THE STRAND, I THINK IT'S REALLY GETTING CLEANED UP OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
AND I'VE SEEN A BETTER MINUTE STRAND AND BRINGING BUSINESSES IN JUST SELLING T-SHIRTS.
I MEAN, I COULD TALK ABOUT THAT PROBABLY FOR AN HOUR, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BIG THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME.
>> VERY GOOD. I LOVE YOUR HOME.
I LOVE YOUR NEW FENCE TOO, THAT'S [OVERLAPPING].
>> HURRICANE NICHOLAS. [LAUGHTER]
>> YOU CAN BUILD YOUR POOL BACK THERE.
>> I SEE CLAY OFF ON MY BLOCK.
SOMETIMES HE'LL BE ON THE FRONT PORCH AND HE WAVES.
YOU'RE THE INFORMAL GREETER FOR GALVESTON DOWN THERE?
>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN WE HAD THE REST OF THE HOUSE.
WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME ON THE PORCH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. ROGERS. VERY GOOD.
PLANNING COMMISSION, THEY'RE GOING TO BE WRESTLING WITH SOME TOUGH TOPICS COMING UP.
WE MENTIONED ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS AND SO FORTH ON THAT.
THE EXPANSION OF THE ISLAND AND THE GROWTH OF ISLAND WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU GOING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, CLAY, YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGE.
THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING ADDED TO OUR ORDINANCES OR LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS OR RELAXED OR DELETED.
>> I CAN GET BACK TO HER PERSONALLY.
I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE REGULATIONS BUT I KNOW THERE ARE REGULATIONS ON NOISE.
>> THERE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN NOISE AND TOURISTS.
[LAUGHTER] I WOULD LIKE TO SEE EITHER THOSE REGULATIONS EXPANDED OR ENFORCED, SO THAT IT'S A GOOD BALANCE.
ANOTHER THING I'M PLANNING, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME OF THE AREAS, I GUESS, BEAUTIFIED A LITTLE MORE WITH TREE PLANTINGS.
I AGREE THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL PAIN IS A THORNY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED, SIR.
>> VERY GOOD. WE WILL BE MAKING OUR DECISIONS, WE'LL BE RANKING THE CANDIDATES, BE MAKING OUR DECISIONS ON SEPTEMBER 15TH WANTED TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR APPLICATION, SIR.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE.
>> OUR LAST CANDIDATE UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT IS ROSHAN EDWARDS.
I'M NOT SURE, SEEMS LIKE MISS EDWARDS [OVERLAPPING]. EXCUSE ME. DID YOU SEE HER?
>> WE HAD MORE LIKE A JAMES BEGUN BEFORE?
>> GOOD MORNING, AND HI, ROSHAN?
>> MORNING. I FEEL LIKE THE ACQUISITIONS. [LAUGHTER]
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
WE KEPT EVERYBODY AWAITING, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
>> APPRECIATE IT. AS YOU KNOW, ROSHAN, WE'RE INTERVIEWING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I KNOW YOU'RE UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE IN THE PAST.
I'LL ALLOW YOU TO GIVE A SHORT INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> WELL, HELLO. MY NAME IS ROSHAN EDWARDS.
I AM A NON-NATIVE GALVESTON BUT I'M HERE TRANSPLANTED.
[02:45:02]
BEEN HERE, I BELIEVE ABOUT NINE OR 10 YEARS NOW.I OWN PROPERTY, REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION, I BUILD AND REMODEL.
I'M ALSO A GRANDMOTHER OF TWO AND I AM A WIFE AND A MOTHER OF TWO SONS.
I LOVE WORKING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE FURTHER.
COUNCIL, QUESTIONS FOR MISS EDWARDS.
>> WHAT TERM ARE YOU ON RIGHT NOW? IS THIS YOUR FIRST TERM THAT YOU'RE COMPLETING?
>> NO. I THOUGHT WHEN I APPLIED LAST TIME THAT I APPLIED FOR FULL TIME BUT I GUESS NOT, WHEN I WAS TALKING TO THEM.
THEY SAID THAT FILLED IN FOR THE END OF SOMEONE ELSE'S TERM.
>> VERY GOOD. [OVERLAPPING] YES. GO AHEAD.
>> THIS WILL BE THE FIRST FULL?
>> WILL THIS REAPPOINTMENT BE THE FIRST FULL TERM?
YOU'VE BEEN ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
WHAT ARE SOME CHANGES AND THINGS THAT YOU FEEL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT THEY HAVEN'T ADDRESSED AS YET?
>> I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS ON PLANNING COMMISSION THAT COULD BE BETTER OBSERVED OR HAS NOT TAKEN UP CASES ARE HEARING CASES THAT WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY ABILITY TO AFFECT.
I THINK IT CONFUSES THE PUBLIC AND THEY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE SOME CHANGES WHERE WE DON'T.
ALL WE'RE DOING IS HEARING SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY SHOULDN'T COME THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE NO EFFECT ON IT.
I THINK THAT ESPECIALLY THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY WRITTEN IN THE RULES AND THAT WE DON'T REALLY CANNOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO AS VOTING UP OR DOWN ON REALLY DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A CHANGE, WHEREAS WE'RE JUST REALLY A PASS THROUGH OUR CONDUIT FOR CITY COUNCIL ON A LOT OF ISSUES.
SOME OF THOSE ISSUES, IN MY OPINION, DOESN'T NEED TO GO THROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION.
I THINK IT JUST CONFUSES THE PUBLIC AS THERE'S MULTIPLE STEPS TO A PROCESS WHEN THERE REALLY ISN'T.
>> GOOD POINT. QUESTIONS? YES, MAUREEN.
>> WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT ON DEVELOPMENT AS IT PERTAINS TO THE ENTIRE ISLAND?
>> I REALLY FEEL THAT THE ISLAND SHOULD BE TAKING A LOT MORE MONEY AND PUTTING IT BACK INTO HOMES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CURRENT DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISLAND BUT WE WANT TO KEEP OUR ISLAND AS ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE AS IT CAN BE AND BY BUILDING SO MANY NEW HOMES ON THE ISLAND AND TEARING DOWN OR USING A LOTS OR EITHER REGULAR HOUSING OR THESE MEGA HOUSES THAT ARE BEING BUILT UP WILL END UP QUICKLY BECOMING THE HEIGHTS OR SOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN MICE VILLAGE WHERE AN AVERAGE PERSON WOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE.
I THINK WE REALLY OUGHT TO CONSIDER THAT.
I THINK THE CITY OUGHT TO SELL A LOT OF PROPERTY THAT IT OWNS.
IT OUGHT TO SELL IT TO INDIVIDUALS FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSING OR FOR MODERATE INCOME HOUSING FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN KEEP SOME OF OUR PUBLIC STAFF HERE ON THE ISLAND.
THE HOUSING IS SO EXPENSIVE I THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO WORK ON THE ISLAND DON'T LIVE HERE.
>> EXACTLY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? YES, JOHN.
>> WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THINGS LIKE DEVELOPERS BUILDING NEW SUBDIVISIONS OR COMING IN WITH MID OR HIGH-RISE DEVELOPMENTS? THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> I DON'T MIND MID-RISE DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THAT IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE MORE MODERATE PRICE HOUSING.
BUT I DO THINK THAT HIGH-RISES DON'T REALLY HAVE A PLACE ON THE ISLAND.
IT DOESN'T MEET WHAT WE'VE CURRENTLY BEEN DOING, IT DOESN'T MEET THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN OF THE ISLAND.
WHEN WE PUT IN HIGH-RISES, I THINK THAT IN SOME WAYS IT BLOCKS THE VIEW OF OTHERS.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT A GOOD POINT BECAUSE PEOPLE, AH, THE VIEW BUT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT.
IT'S LIKE IF MY HOUSE SITS HERE AND THEN YOU BUILD UP SOMETHING THAT'S 10 STOREYS OR FIVE STOREYS NEXT TO ME, IT'S AIR POLLUTION BUT REALLY IS EYE POLLUTION.
I THINK THAT WE REALLY OUGHT TO CONSIDER THAT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT BUILDING AND DEVELOPING ON THE ISLAND.
WHAT IS THE STANDARD THAT WE'RE GOING TO HOLD TO? ARE WE GOING TO HOLD TO A STANDARD OF BEING A SINGLE-FAMILY OR MAYBE MULTI-FAMILY POOR HOUSES OR BELOW?
[02:50:04]
ARE WE CONSIDERING BEING LIKE ATLANTIC CITY? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BECOME? A GOOD EXAMPLE IS A PLACE CALLED PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.THEY ARE A SISTER CITY TO GALVESTON.
I ACTUALLY BUILT ON THIS FACE BY ACCIDENT.
THAT'S NOT REALLY A BAR BUT THEY TOOK AN OLD BUILDING LIKE OUR MOVIE THEATER HERE THEY CONVERT IT TO A JAZZ BUILT FACILITY AND THEY BRING JAZZ ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
BUT MY POINT ABOUT THAT IS THAT THEY LOOK LIKE US.
THEIR HOUSES LOOK LIKE OURS, EXCEPT THEY'RE NEW ENGLAND STYLE HOUSES BUT IN THE SAME ERA AS OUR HOUSES.
I FEEL LIKE THEY'VE START TO POSITION EARLY ON TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PLACE COULD HOLD THE HISTORY OF THEIR CITY.
I THINK WE SHOULD DO THE SAME.
>> WHEN YOU ARE MAKING DECISION ON A CASE AND IS A LARGER BUILDING SITTING IN FRONT OF A SMALLER BUILDING, YOU CONSIDER THE VIEW IN YOUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS?
>> I WANT TO SAY YES BUT I DON'T.
I ALWAYS THINK I KNOW IT'S THERE AND I DON'T, BUT I TOLD MYSELF THAT THAT'S NOT A PART OF THE RULES.
THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY SOMETHING THAT REALLY PEOPLE THINK WE HAVE AN ABILITY TO MAKE A DECISION ON BUT WE DON'T.
I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL RULES ARE.
WHAT THIS POLICY SAY WE DO? EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES I DON'T AGREE WHAT THE POLICIES, I'M STILL FOLLOWING THE POLICY AS IT STANDS.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAY FOR INSTANCE, A DEVELOPMENT ON THE SEAWALL AND THEY WANT TO BUILD A HIGH-RISE BUILDING BUT IT IS COMMERCIAL.
WELL THEN, THAT'S GOOD. THEY CAN DO THAT.
BUT IF I'M TALKING ABOUT A GUY THAT WANTS TO BUILD A HOUSE NEXT DOOR AT THE UK AND HE WANTS TO BUILD A FOUR OR FIVE STOREYS HOUSE WHICH I DON'T THINK HE CAN BUT IF HE COULD, I'LL TRY TO SAY NO.
>> VERY GOOD. WELL, ROSHAN, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE SO FAR ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE'LL MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS COMING UP HERE ON SEPTEMBER 15TH.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S GIVEN ME FAIR WISHES FOR MY MOM.
I WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY, THANK YOU.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GUYS GAVE YOU BEFORE.
I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND JEFFREY AND ALL THOSE GUYS THEY'VE BEEN GREAT TO ME.
I LOVE TO CONTINUE AND HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS CONSIDER ME.
[OVERLAPPING] HAVE A GREAT DAY GUYS.
>> WELL, I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW OTHER CANDIDATES OUT THERE [NOISE].
COUNCIL, IT'S BEEN A LONG MORNING, IT'S 11:30.
AS COUNCIL, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS BUDGET ANYMORE.
DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT THIS AFTERNOON AT OUR REGULAR MEETING?
>>I'M FINE WITH THIS AFTERNOON.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR WORKSHOP AGENDA.
WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.